Fancy Spoon With Deep Bowl.

[Pooka]

Hello,

I'm hoping someone could help with the identification of the spoon described below. I'm posting in the continental silver / unknown country forum as I am finding it difficult to assess much about the spoon. In my view it could be Dutch, German, or French and either silver or silver-plate and possibly it is a sugar spoon but I am guessing.

The only big clue I have is what seems to be a cross-sword mark in a triangle with a M next to it. It is very decorative and measures in length 6.5" and 2" at widest part and is 28g in weight which maybe could help someone in gauging if it is silver or plate.

There are 3 punch marks, the first two are ever so worn and virtually indecipherable. The first is an oblong cartouche with maybe some numbers in it.The second cartouche is what looks like a stretched oval with maybe 3 letters in it. Next is the triangle shape with ? the cross-sword mark and letter M.

Thankyou if you can help,

Greg.


http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/pooka ... 1.jpg.html

http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/pooka ... k.jpg.html

[dognose]

Hi Greg,

It's Italian. If you can read the numbers contained in the top left corner mark (??? AR) we should be able to identify the maker.

Trev.

[Pooka]

Hi Trev,

Thanks for that! You encouraged me to give the marks a deeper clean and the AR you mentioned is very clear now. The three numbers before the AR are most likely 937, although second-guessing this they could be any of these others : 987 or 337 or 387. Below this in the oval cartouche I now believe I can also see 890!

Gosh, exciting stuff!

I hope this can help you to help me!

Thanks,

Greg.

[Pooka]

Hi again,

Just a quick corection! The number in the oval cartouche is 800. I've also waded through all 37 pages ( on here ) listing the Italian silversmiths and their regions but I can't find a silversmith in Arezzo for the number 937 or the second guesses of 987 or 337 or 387. I've tried to search online for more lists but there are none as complete as the one I've already looked at!

Thanks,

Greg.

[dognose]

Hi Greg,

As it stands at the moment I'm struggling to find a fit with those numbers and the initials 'CMX'. I still have a mountain of information to add to the Italian Silverware and Jewellery Manufacturers topic and am adding details on a daily basis, so keep your eye on it.

What we do know at the moment, is that your spoon is made of 800/1000 silver, by a manufacturer in the Arezzo province, some time after 1968.

I'm sure we will get a positive result soon, I'll keep searching, but hopefully someone will beat me to it. In the meantime please add a fresh photo of the cleaned up mark, but try to embed the image, as many people will not click on links.

See also: http://www.925-1000.com/Fitalian_marks_01.html

Trev.

[Pooka]

Hi Trev,

That's great you managed to decipher what I thought was a cross-sword mark into the initials ' CMX ' - it's amazing what a trained eye can do! I'm also so pleased my spoon is silver! I'll research how to embed my pictures and post some again. Thankyou for your continuing support.

Greg.

[Pooka]

Unfortunately my camera broke last night so I won't be able to post any pictures for a little while. I will endeavour to further study the three numbers before the AR and hopefully post any conclusions!

Greg.

[amena]

About the marks here you are the correspondences
AR 337 VOLPI DANILO & Co
AR 387 CI.EFFE.PI.Snc DI FERRI FRANCO
AR 937 ITALIAN GOLD CENTER di LA BELLA GIOVANNI
AR 987 VIGNALI DANIELA & Co
but I don't see any correspondence with the letters CMX
Amena

[Pooka]

Thankyou !

Greg.