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I have a silver vessel with a band of unusual marks under the rim - most appear to be decorative, but there are some unusual ones: a crown over sheild with three stars, another emblem with three stars, and 'IS' in a rounded square (photos included). The piece has an incised date of 1772 under the handle.










Any information/leads on these marks would be most appreciated!

(I put this in the silverplate category because I have no idea what region/country this would be from if it were in fact sterling)

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It is swedish silver
made by Johan Söderdahl 1756-1799 in Söderköping.

year mark should be a single letter

and U is 1778
D=daughter
S= son

Thank you so much - that was extremely helpful. I was thinking it looked similar to the Swedish marks, but wasn't sure. Confusion cleared!

Interesting that the kovsh has an engraved date of 1772 but it's made 6 years later in 1778!? Usually it's the other way, isn't it?

Not at all unusual. I have several pieces of silver from the 1880s and 1890s that were engraved with later dates and given as gifts (birthdays, wedding anniversaries, etc).

justinherman97 wrote:Not at all unusual. ......were engraved with later dates.....

Dear justinherma97, what if you reread what I wrote. The engraved date is 6 years earlier (1772) than the kovsh was made (1778) and that is unusual!
Having a later date engraved than when the object is made is of course quite usual....

Yes. Not usual, but it does happen. I have a pair of spoons, London 1798, but engraved JMC over 1791, for example.

It could be given to someone as a rememberence of the wedding.

Another possibility is that 2 - in 1772 is an 8 that has some loose ends