Need Help Identifying AW Maker Russian mark

ronenros · Post by **ronenros** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 5:45 pm

Does anyone recognize this maker? It looks like AW, but I assume that these are Cyrillic characters. I have eight spoons, and most are stamped like the first with a K3 to the side.

Does anyone know about this particular maker?

.

blakstone · Post by **blakstone** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:04 pm

The assayer’s initials — K3 — are those of Kliment Zagaev, an assayer at Vilnius, Lithuania, 1886-1908. The maker’s mark is not in any reference I have, but the only Lithuanian maker I can find at the right time and with the right initials is Abram Moishe Fyvushovich Warshawchik, working in Kaunas, Lithuania from 1890. (Kaunas had its own assay office from 1854-1899, but with the introduction of the 1899 “kokoshnik” mark here, all Lithuanian silver was marked at Vilnius.)
.

Zollo · Post by **Zollo** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:37 pm

assayer's mark is for Kliment Anikievich Zagaevski graduated from Gorny (Mountain) Institute, St.Petersburg in 1880. Worked in Vilno (now Vilnius, Lithuania) as the head of assay office since 1890, in 1910 he moved to Riga assay office.
In 1896 assaying system was changed and from 1899 till 1908 (dates of Your spoon) there were only 12 assay offices. Vilno office was of charge of Kovno (now Kaunas, Lithuania). So it can be Abram Warshawchik found by blakstone. I've never met this maker.

AW mark was mentioned several times in Postnikova-Loseva:
1. unknown master of Riga XIX c.
2. unknown master in Tallinn 1920-1940.
3. August Wendt 1864-1874 Spb.

I think that the first two can be the the same master moving from one Baltic town to another.
.

ronenros · Post by **ronenros** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:24 pm

Thank you, Blakstone and Zollo,

It amazes me that people have such a wealth of knowledge. I appreciate the information

Best regards,

Ron
.