935 silver mystery hallmark

[zeretia]

Desperately seeking information on maker or country of origin. Marked 935 and hallmark?

[Aguest]

:::: I can't say for sure, but the shape of the cartouche and the 935 silver purity has me investigating Austria, but the strange thing is I can't identify the original hallmark because I think it has been overstepped with what looks like 3 symbols [cursive-lowercase-f (?) + the number 1 designating the 1st standard fineness of 935 + the letter "S" seems to be there for some reason) :::::::

::::: The original hallmark might have been one of the Austrian silver hallmarks applied during the Anschluss (the occupation of Austria by Germany) so after the war there might have been an effort to obliterate that hallmark (similar efforts to obliterate World War II silver hallmarks took place in Italy because Italy used the Fasces in their hallmark and I've seen that mark intentionally obliterated). ::::::

::::: I just get the impression that this necklace is Austrian 1930s-1940s, of course there are experts with much more experience in Continental jewelry, and I hope they take the time to comment ::::::::::

[zeretia]

Thank you. I was thinking Austria or Germany as well. Is there a trick to try to get a better view of mark? A way to darken perhaps for better contrast? I keep thinking I see a rooster and fluer di lis.

[Aguest]

:::: That might be a "double-headed eagle" hallmark, those do occur on Austrian silver, I think I see the "double-headed eagle" now that you mentioned a chicken, as far as pictures go I guess just keep trying to take pictures until you get a really good picture that has sharp focus and sharp details. ::::::

:::: Sometimes it takes me 20 attempts until I get 1 really good picture :::::::