www.925-1000.com

hi,

I've had this brush and hand mirror set for more than 10 years. Recently my boyfriend broke the mirror that was attached to this beautiful intricate piece. I noticed that that it had the following runes inscribed inside of it: izi (Pictured below). I've compared it to many others and I haven't been able to place it's maker. I also find it very unusual that a mirror would be hallmarked behind the mirror i.e you wouldn't be able to see it if it wasn't broken. Hope someone can help me know where this set if from and who made it.

Hi ~ Welcome to the forums. In the mid 1970s, Towle Silversmiths started producing a line called the "Beauty Marks Collection", comprised of small vanity items like cosmetic brushes, perfume bottles, nail file, powder jar, purse mirror, etc., with their sterling parts (handles, tops, backs) in a design based on their Old Masterand Symphony flatware patterns. A bit later, they dropped the "Beauty Marks" branding, but continued to offer the small sterling pieces, and also offered 'Made in Japan' silverplate versions of the powder jar and purse mirror, along with a three-piece dresser set including a hand mirror, hairbrush and comb - the mirror you show is from that set, which was usually marked 'TOWLE', but is sometimes found unmarked. The 'Runic' looking impressions that were under the mirror are not any kind of hallmark - I've never seen the dresser set in sterling, but if it was produced, there would be stamped marks somewhere along the edge of the pieces reading 'TOWLE STERLING'. Older silver hand mirrors usually had beveled-edge mirrors held in by a lip or gasket, making repairs awkward, but any good glass shop should be able to cut a new mirror to glue into yours, making it pretty and functional again.

~Cheryl

1987 ad for the dresser set:

I've compared it to the Towel items and they dot compare. They're very similar but the flower and other repousse parts are not identical. Also, I've seen the ones that are from Towel that look similar, but those are stamped. I haven't gone to a jeweler to get it tested but I read online that if you put ice and melts before 3 secs than most Likely it isn't plated. Do you still think its the same brand: Towel?

Towle* don't*

I also thought that maybe those ruen looking inscriptions could be part of the casting.