I didn't think this was silver...but

[Stonepuppet]

This was my mother's she didn't think it was silver, she got it from my grandmother on my fathers side's estate, they didn't communicate much, and I don't think she got any information about it. I searched the marks and one appears to be a Diana head with a 2 to the left and an A to the right (photos below) Is this .900 silver or know something else about this item ? It has a silver bowl with a lift-out brass liner. It is 12.5x 9.25 x 5 6/8ths high. It weighs 1.88 kilograms without the brass liner. Please excuse it has over a decade of tarnish being in the attic.

I couldn't seem to post all the images here, said "It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the image" so posting the album links.

http://imgur.com/a/VmdFA#jiUfQ
http://i.imgur.com/HKcus.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gawnj.jpg
http://imgur.com/a/JdL3b

[oel]

Hi Stonepuppet, welcome to the forum.

Hallmarks for the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1867-1922 previously known as the Austrian Empire (1804 to 1867); the head of the mythological goddess Diana, facing right, in a hexagon; the figure (2); to indicate a silver fineness of 900/1000 and the letter A; for the regional assay office of Wien/Vienna Austria. This mark used 1872-1922. A key to identifying these silver hallmarks is the crescent moon on Diana’s head, which often be recognized even if the mark is worn. ICK / I.C. Klinkosch for the makers’ mark/retailers’ mark. Perhaps other contributors can tell you more about the marks and his silversmith.


Oel

[Stonepuppet]

Hi Stonepuppet, welcome to the forum.

Hallmarks for the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1867-1922; the head of the mythological goddess Diana , facing right in a hexagon; the figure to indicate a silver fineness of 900/1000 and the letter A for the regional assay office of Wien/Vienna Austria this mark used 1872-1922. A key to identifying these silver hallmarks is the cresent moon on Diana’s head, which often be recognized even if the mark is worn.

Thanks Oel,
I am still surprised it's silver, my mother always said she doubted it was :)
Any idea if that other sloppy mark could be the double headed eagle ? It looks like the stamper didnt hit it head on and only rendered half of it, I read that it was the royal family mark two heads of eagles shows that they were purveyor to the court, and that J.C Klinkosch was one of best silversmiths who worked for the emperor. It looks similar, but I can't really make it out too well.

[oel]

Yes, I believe you could be right but let us wait for the other contributors to reply. Josef Carl von Klinkosch; Imperial Silversmith to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria: Klinkosch fulfilled numerous commissions for the Austrian Royal Family and is regarded among the finest Austrian silversmiths of the late 19th century.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Carl_von_Klinkosch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"

http://www.ascasonline.org/newsFEBBRA81.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;"
Scroll down to the middle and read what Oskar M. Zurell writes:

Best,

Oel.

[Stonepuppet]

Thanks Oel, great information

Will wait and see if anyone else might recognize this style/piece to be sure about the double eagle, its such a messy stamping :)

Jen

[dolpheus]

You are right, double-head eagle mark (Austrian imperial eagle) can use only "kaiserlicher und königlicher Hoflieferant" (Royal warrant of appointment). And, of course, no one maker was hoflieferant every time (use eagle mark only in years, he was approved as hoflieferant-in other years can be seen its maker mark without eagle mark). JCK was hoflieferant from year 1851 (working from 1847, company his father Carl-son of Josef Caspar) . For example, Eduard Friedmann can use eagle mark till 1914, etc.
Some item from my collection: