Two Maker's marks On One Box - Your Thoughts Please

[dognose]

Hi,

I'm seeking some information for a friend with this question.

It's a silver painted box with both inside and outside marks:



The outside marks are '800' and 'VM'.



The inside marks, struck centrally on the base, are a 'G800F', the 'G' and the 'F' being aligned sideways within the mark. Perhaps this is not a maker's mark, but hopefully an assay mark.



Any thoughts on this one? Maker, country of origin, any information appreciated.

Trev.

[oel]

Hi Trev,

Not much of help, more a hunch but could it be of Italian origin around turn of the 19th century?
Maker's&retailer's initials.


Oel.

[dognose]

Hi Peter,

I'll research further along those lines.

Regards, Trev.