help with this early continental salver - presume portuguese

rat-tail · Post by **rat-tail** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 3:43 pm

Hi could anyone help me with this pretty little six inch salver with bead edge decoration on three delicate feet. Am I right to think the crowned L is for Lisbon, also got a Portuguese style assay squiggle on the back and a tiny little mark I can't make out with the naked eye, and which I've tried to photograph. There is a feint trace of a mark on the back, you'll see it as a slightly darker grey splodge south west of the assay squiggle, but it's unreadable. It looks like the makers mark (on the front) is J.J M. I would assume C1800s. Any help as to age, origin, and maker would be appreciated - thanks Frank

blakstone · Post by **blakstone** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:51 pm

The form of the "L" is consistent with that used by Lisbon assayer Luis Gonzaga de Costa, working ca. 1790 - 1804, so I think your dating is spot-on. The maker JJ/M is recorded during the period but has not been conclusively identified; that said, he is probably JosÃ© JerÃ³nimo Marques who registered a different "JJM" mark in 1804.

Hope this helps!

rat-tail · Post by **rat-tail** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:25 am

Thanks Blakstone for sharing your knowledge. Appreciate it. Would you be able to tell if it's first or second standard silver. I assume that obscure little mark by the assay squiggle is the relevant one. It feels more like sterling but got the steely patina closer to old 800. But neither test is conclusive. Regards Frank

blakstone · Post by **blakstone** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:50 pm

Well, the assayer’s mark guaranteed the minimum fineness of 9 dinheiros (9/12 = .750). 10 dinheiros (.833) and 11 dinheiros (.916) were also permitted, and were generally marked with the appropriate Roman numeral: X or XI, with the latter by far the more common of the two.

So I don’t think the tiny mark is a fineness mark. I can’t make anything out of it; are you sure it’s really a mark?

Post by **dognose** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:14 am

Frank, a clearer photo of the mark would be of assistance.

rat-tail · Post by **rat-tail** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:08 pm

Hi guys - will try to get a clearer shot on Sunday - sorry two double shifts ahead of me to get the weekend newspapers out here. The little mark could simply be a tool mark, maybe where this was held on some sort of lathe or something - it's pretty much in the centre - yes and sorry this lovely piece could do with a quick whiff of polish. Thanks frank