Mystery marks

Zollo · Post by **Zollo** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:02 pm

Recently I bought the milk jug on the flea market in Moscow. The seller said it's silverplated.

I cannot even determine the country of origin.

I would appreciate any clues.

Qrt.S · Post by **Qrt.S** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:03 pm

First of all, it is not Russian silver because the marks don’t correspond with Russian Silver marks. Secondly, I share the seller’s assumption of the piece being made in an alloy that is silver-plated but not silver. This is an alloy called new silver or alpaca. It contains of copper, nickel, and zinc and in some cases also a small amount of pewter. It is also known as German silver, in French argent d’allemange. There are also other alternatives regarding the alloy, it could also be brass.

Somehow I get the impression that the jug is so-called restaurant silver. The jug is not old. The 28 cl (centiliter) mark in the bottom indicates that. There are three Cyrillic letters in one of the marks, transliterated they seems to show GOI but I’m not sure. Unfortunately it doesn’t ring any bell in my head.

The problem with marks on silver plated items is, that there is neither any national nor any international standard on how to mark silver plated items and has never been. That makes the identification I some cases rather difficult.
I’m sorry but I’m unable to tell you more. This is not my area. Please also note that I didn’t say that the jug is not Russian, what I said was that it is not Russian silver.

Post by **admin** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:14 pm

Hi,
I think it is an example of French silverplate, the maker's trademark meets the standard form and the unclear marks on the far right may read "Metal Blanc". It also strikes me as a piece of hotel ware.
This will help with the numbers -> http://www.925-1000.com/a_platenumbers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regards, Tom

Zollo · Post by **Zollo** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:24 pm

Thx

I know that this is not Russian silver
and I know it's not Soviet era alloy

SOI in cyrillic letters under something lokks like a bird confuses me most
the left mark reminds me Odessa city mark

28 cl - never thought of it this way (centiliters), I thought it is just coincidence

Qrt.S · Post by **Qrt.S** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:25 pm

French!? With due respect, but in that case I kindly wonder how do you explain the three undoubtedly Cyrillic letters in the second mark from the left, the mark that looks like a pelican?

Post by **admin** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:59 pm

The marks are none too clear, unclear enough for the letters under the bird to be a cyrillic - SOI or GOI - or latin COM or SOM and the M could well be another letter.
Were it Russian, would the volume measurement be the latin - CL for centiliters? Not a rhetorical question, I have no idea.

Regards, Tom

Zollo · Post by **Zollo** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:28 am

maybe this will help:

jug is 9 cm tall
286 g

and yes it's volume is about 28 cl

I spent one more hour with a magnifier to check the marks

Now I'm not so sure that letters under the bird mark are cyrillic - the last letter may be M or N or H
but the bird to my mind is a cock looking left bearing a flag
I have a strange feeling that I've seen it before

Well I'll try to ask some experts from France as Tom suggested it's French