www.925-1000.com

Hi,
I have this russian silver ladle. It's marked "A.L", asseryer's mark "I.E. 1870", St. Petersburg. Does anyone knows who is "A.L."?
thanks
http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o60 ... ladle1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o60 ... ladle2.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hi Lars -

Assay master: Iestignejev, Iwan V. 1870-1891
Maker: the mark is not registered but it could be: Aron Lydicke 1849-1881 (Latin letters!)

Regards
Zolotnik

Hi Zolotnik
thank you for information and very quick reply

Maybe it is Lydicke or Lydikäin as it it also written in some sources. However, his mark differs quite a lot from the shown mark, but...? Difficult to say for sure.

Hello!
Sorry, but I think that Zolotnik is not right. Most likely the "AL" is early mark of famous Russian silversmith Lubavin Alexander Benedictovich (Любавин Александр Бенедиктович). In 1893-1917 he was the owner of the silver factory in St. Petersburg and was the supplier of the Imperial Household. At this time he used the brand "ЛЮБАВИНЪ" with a crown. But at the beginning of its activities since 1850 he used the mark "AL" (latin) or "АЛ" (cyrillic).
Best regards.
Alex.

Hmmmm...looks a bit strange to me that one of the best Russian silver factories' mark would be unknown. It is a fact that Lyubavin used Latin letters also but the shown mark's shield differs quite a lot from the known marks' shields. The were all rectangular. This is not.

In addition, where from comes the information regarding using a mark "ЛЮБАВИНЪ" with a crown? I'd like to see this mark. I cannot recall seeing one single Russian maker's mark combined with a crown. Kindly show it. Thank you in advance..... On a second thought, perhaps you mean the court supplier mark, the double eagle and not a crown?

Excuse me, Qrt.S!
Of course "ЛЮБАВИНЪ" with double headed eagle, not crown. It's my mistake :-(. But I think that the mark's shield could vary from year to year...