Berry Spoon - Sterling silver? advice appreciated

nich52 · Post by **nich52** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:04 am

I am puzzled by this berry spoon. It has very unclear marks and it might not even be silver, although it looks and feels like silver to me. The first mark looks like KP but I can't find any such maker. The last one seems to read NS or N&S but I can't be sure. The middle one is completely unreadable. I can't see any lion passant or town mark, unless the middle one is one of those.
Someone has scratched a series of letters under the marks. It could be a UK postcode - but why would anyone deface an old piece of silver like this?
And if it isn't silver, why bother with this identification? The spoon is 195mm long. If anyone could hazard a guess to the age or maker, or even if it is silver, I would be very grateful.

georgiansilver · Post by **georgiansilver** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:55 am

RP = makers mark.... NS = nickel silver which is an alloy. Best wishes, Mike.

nich52 · Post by **nich52** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 11:52 am

Thanks Mike - looks like it's new home will be the kitchen drawer instead of the display cabinet then!

Post by **Granmaa** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:35 pm

Instead of RP, do you think it could be EP?
This would make it Electro-plated Nickel Silver with the maker's mark in the middle. Doesn't make much difference to anything though.

Miles

byron mac donald · Post by **byron mac donald** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:45 am

I guess I do not understand why the items monetary value should distract from the items artistic value, you own it do what you want with it I guess, just my humble opinion is all. :-)

nich52 · Post by **nich52** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:15 pm

Yes, I agree up to a point. If I had discovered that it was a very old spoon, made of sterling silver, I would just 'respect' the spoon a bit more because of the craftsmanship and skill that went into it's manufacture. It's not the monetary value that is so important, it's the quality and the age.

The person that sold it to me actually offered me a full refund, but I chose to keep it because it is quite attractive.