www.925-1000.com

I am seeking the possible maker of this jar.

Two stamps are found on both the base of the jar, and inside the lid. If I have read the information on this site correctly, the second stamp indicates that it was made in 1856 in Vienna (A), and has a purity of 13/16 lothig as there is a 13 inside the year. The makers stamp has 3 characters in it. The first is clearly a capital "M". The second character is either a stylized "A", but looks much more as if it were two curved lines crossing one another above the half way point. The third character is clearly the capital letter "K".

Your knowledge and assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

My knowledge on Austrian Silversmiths is not great, but I suspect your wonderful looking jar may be made by the important firm of Mayerhofer & Klinkosch.

I believe they were working from 1837 until around 1870.

Hopefully someone will confirm/deny soon.

Trev.

Hello, the maker`s mark in this form seems to be undocumented so far. Austrian marks have a distinctve frame around the letters, I wonder why it is missing here. The year mark looks quite fresh and perfectly struck. Hm. I wonder... Best wishes, Bahner

The mark may appear to be fresh because I had just polished the tarnish off of the jar and was careful not to polish it out of the details. My parents were extremely careful in packing this piece when we moved from Vienna to the US, and my mother kept this jar out of harms way (away from children and relatives) all my life. That being said, if the statement that the marker's mark appears to be too new is to be interpreted to mean it may be a fake, please say so directly and provide a few suggestions as to what to look for in a fake. It would not diminish the value it holds as a link to my childhood memories. Thank you.

the 1856 mark looks new. Its so perfect. The few Austrary Hungary things I have seen including myown all have hallmarks that "look" like marks that have been there for a long period.
That goes for all of my silver. Only hallmarks placed in odd locations are perfect. They never survive 150 years of polish. (or 50 years for that matter)

Whether that is the case with your silver I dont know. But whenever someting looks to good to be trough - often it is not.

This is what appears on the inside of the lid.

I thank you each for giving my posting your time and attention. I believe I understand now the relevance to the marks being too new, too clean. You have given my search for information another avenue to pursue in addition to the marker's mark, and that is to learn if it is a fake. I thank you again for sharing your knowledge and opinions.

Hi All,

Personally, I see nothing wrong with a piece that has perfect hallmarks. Depending on its use, the way its been stored and cared for, I see no reason why the marks should always show years of wear.

I remember reading a Victorian book on advice to household staff that recommended when cleaning silver to always remember to keep your thumb pressed against the hallmark to prevent unnecessary wear.

Here's another image from an earlier post with the same 'M & K' mark:



Trev.

i have just been at eBay - saw a beaker same age. Austria mark also almost perfect. So yes it is possible that owners have spared mark.