Marks on silver cigarette case ?

JeanMa · Post by **JeanMa** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:33 am

Hi,

I have a silver cigarette case which has 2 marks.
Can you help me identify the marks and the silversmith? Thank you!
Here are the pictures:

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paulh · Post by **paulh** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:41 pm

The mark on the right is the Kokoshnik mark used on Russian silver between 1889 and 1908. The small mark behind the lady’s head is the initials of the assay master, which would give a more accurate location of manufacture, but they are too indistinct to make out on the photograph.

The mark on the left is that of the maker, of which I can find no trace for definite but it might be I.P. Smirnov.

Sorry to be so vague, but I hope this points you in the right direction.

Paul.
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JeanMa · Post by **JeanMa** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:08 pm

Thanks for your response Paul. Very helpful and appreciated.
JM
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Bahner · Post by **Bahner** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:33 pm

Hello, this looks indeed like the maker's mark of Smirnov, active in Moscow 1890 to 1908. The symbol on the right hand side of the ladie's head seems to be that of the Moscow assay office (the upper art of it looks like the number "5"). This city mark seems to have been in use 1899 - 1908, even though the corresponding Ucas came out a few years earlier. Best wishes, Bahner
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