French looking egg spoon

[silverfan]

This little egg spoon (11,8 cm long) looks French for me but does not bear French marks. The monogram RV or VR on the backside looks ancien régime. The only legible mark is a B with something above. The second mark below I cannot identify. Does anybody know where the item comes from?
Regards silverfan

[oel]

It is a mark of C. J. Begeer, Koninklijke Utrechtse Fabriek van Zilverwerk, used around 1920-1931. For Begeer, see;
viewtopic.php?p=70305#p70305

The unknown mark is the script -letter I. The script-letter I used 1906-1953; Duty mark for unguaranteed standard of fineness new silver objects of national origin. This mark was used on all new Netherlands silver objects below legal standard of fineness, see;
viewtopic.php?t=32028



Peter

[silverfan]

Hi Peter,
surprising news. Not expected. In our forum I read:" The script letter I, used 1906-53 as a Dutch duty mark for all newly manufactured Dutch silver objects that tested below the legal standard of 833/1000 fineness,.....". So the egg spoon has a fineness below 833/1000 ( perhaps 800/1000 ?) and got the script letter I mark as a "non-guarantied marking"!? Does one know what fineness Begeer used?
Regards silverfan

[oel]

During this time period Begeer used, 1st standard minimum 925/1000 and 2nd standard minimum 833/1000. The script I was also a duty mark for unguaranteed standard. Duty paid for a small silver egg spoon, cheaper than an assay and hallmarking, and perfectly legal to sell. Or the overall minimum was just below 833/1000. Shit happens also for Begeer's silver factory.

Peter.

[silverfan]

Thanks Peter, that sounds very reasonable.
Regards Dirk