Is this sugar tongs Chinese Silver?

[Joerg]

Hi
Is this sugar tongs Chinese silver? It is a flea market find in central Europe. I found similar marks in the Chinese section in the World Marks, but not an exact match.
If yes, can you name the maker and the place? Also, what is the silver purity and the approximate date of manufacturing?
Thank you very much, Jörg

[dognose]

Hi Jörg,

This is thought to be the one of the marks of a yet to be identified Canton silversmith. The item probably dates to the last quarter of the 19th century.

Trev.

[Joerg]

Hi Trev
thank you, I am glad the sugar tongs have a home now. They will go in my collection.
Regards, Jörg

[Ag999]

As for the silver purity, almost all Chinese export silver made from late 19th to early 20th C. was made from melted down Mexican and South American silver dollars, thus was 90% silver. It was a silver source they could depend on. Many of these pieces have "90" stamped on them.