I have just purchased these two salts on the internet can anybody help with the marks?
There are four other much smaller stamps on the salts that are too small to photograph. There is a small square stamp with what looks like AH over something, there is a small circular stamp with an ornate letter inside, and on the fretwork itself there is a small stamp with the profile of a man in it. There is also a stamp of a lion passant with a figure 2 under it with a key going into it - this mark looks much fresher than the others if that makes any sense.
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4184301" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4184302" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
.
Genuine or Pseudo
Salts
There is good news and bad. The minerva head in picture 1 and the lion passant (with the 2) indicate dutch silver made between 1814 and 1906. The key figure stamped on the lion passant is a dutch export mark.
The RD and the big L suggest it was made in Zwolle in 1798, the XXX mark suggest that it is made in Amsterdam.
If we look at this combination of marks in K.A. Citroen the conclusion should be that these are a well known combination of false marks.
However it still is Dutch 825/1000 silver made between 1814-1906. Maybe there is another year letter or makers mark to narrow it down (the two little marks close to the big L - which I can't read!)?
.
The RD and the big L suggest it was made in Zwolle in 1798, the XXX mark suggest that it is made in Amsterdam.
If we look at this combination of marks in K.A. Citroen the conclusion should be that these are a well known combination of false marks.
However it still is Dutch 825/1000 silver made between 1814-1906. Maybe there is another year letter or makers mark to narrow it down (the two little marks close to the big L - which I can't read!)?
.