www.925-1000.com

Hello

Just picked up this small shell motif salt dish with a gold vermeil on three rough looking dolphin feet. The feet look like they have been added later perhaps and originally only had the handles thought I am not sure. Thinking this was possibly some earlier Dutch mark. Has the zig zag silver assay mark, Capital N in circle and what looks to be a small house or cottage in a circle. No other marks are found. Any help would be appreciated on origin and age.

Thanks
Pauline

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http://i53.tinypic.com/2hqgfet.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i54.tinypic.com/6yhcvs.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hello Pauline,

The N and the House mark do not strike me it might be of Dutch origin, perhaps Hanau? http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau_marks_01.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Who knows?

Regards,

Oel

Hello Pauline

It appears your shell dish may be from Nurnburg circa 1650. Rosenberg lists the makers mark, a 'house' similar to the one on your dish as being linked to another silversmith, David Eckirch from Augsburg. Maybe the adminstrator could move this to the German site where someone more knowledgeable could help. Regards John

there is an other image of his mark
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silberstempel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The new reference Nürnberger Goldschmiedekunst 1541-1868, identifies this mark as that of Nuremberg goldsmith Joachim Haussner (1639-1673), who was apprenticed 1652-1658 to his father Oswald Haussner (1608-1671), and became a master in 1662.

I couldn’t speak to the authenticity of a 17th century piece from photos, but I will say that the form is entirely correct for the period. Neither the handles nor the feet bother me — both are seen together on period pieces — but there does appear to be a sigificant bit missing: the rear of the shell should curve sharply upward in a tall, elaborate scroll surmounted by a figural finial. I can’t tell from your photos if this has been broken, trimmed or both.

Hope this helps!


Ref: Karin Tebbe, et al., Nürnberger Goldschmiedekunst 1541-1868 (Nuremberg: GNM, 2007), v. I, p. 161, maker 331 & v. II, p. 961, items 665 & 666 (two very similar Nuremberg salts, 1661/64 and 1670/71, both with the scroll and finial and in the collection of the Landesmuseum Württemberg in Stuttgart).

Hello-
In response to the previos post, I do believe this small dish is mid 1650-1660s. The mark is exactly the same as the one posted as a reference and it looks right. This piece as I had not stated in original posting has definitely been cut at the top. There is evidence of lead solder at the cut edge. Don't know why it was cut down. This is the way I got it. Possible someone may post a pic of what it should look like in its entirety.
Thanks