is this a Moscow mark?

[europaul]

Good evening,

I am new to silver, and I have found a drinking-vessel which has the maker's mark of Ivan yefimovich konstantinov, dated 1880, but not with the Moscow city mark that I see on your website. Can anybody tell me if the city mark on this vessel is correct or not? Can it be a fake?


best regards from Holland,
Paul van Eck[/img]
.

[Postnikov]

Good evening-

as far as I read, the maker is ХЛЕБНИКОВЪ = Khlebnikov, one of the best Russian silversmiths.

All the marks on your object are very poorly faked and total phantasy.

Sorry for bringing the bad news!

Regards
Postnikov
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[europaul]

Thank you very much for your reply.
Is it very common that Russian silver tankards are being faked? And who is responsible for these fakes, do you know?

best regards,
Paul van Eck
.

[Qrt.S]

Yes, unfortunately Postnikov is quiet right. Here you can see how a genuine Konstantinov mark looks like. Please note that it is a combination of three separate marks made to one. It is called "troininki" i.e. triple. Pay attention to the city mark to the right. St George is riding to the right not to the left. That he did 1888-1896 but this is 1880.

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[Postnikov]

Hi Paul -

as long as antiques are sold they have been faked. The reason: if the demand (and the money you can make) is bigger than the offer - you fake them! Most fakes come from Eastern Europe (poor) or since several years from China, mostly enamel (better).
If you want to collect something - do your homework and learn as much as possible about your hobby before you buy! That will save money and bad experiences. Two rules which can help:
1.) If an offer is too good to be true - it mostly is!
2.) Buy the seller not the object!

Regards and happy hunting
Postnikov
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