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Hello all,

I attach here images of a sugar castor (open to ideas if you believe it may be something else) which is rather nicely crafted with repousse work and nicely executed gargoyles (or similar design). The piece is gilded to the interior.

There are three marks, one on the lid, two on the body. The mark on the lid looks to me to be the Paris 1819-38 'large' mark but is quite worn.

On the body, there appears to be a lion rampant, and a CB with a star below. The letters could also be a CH with a star below. A CR would also be a possibility. However using a loupe, I think CB is most likely.





Your assistance is greatly appreciated - I just want to know more about this piece, it is not for sale.

Thank you

I don't think you are going to like what I have to say. We would need to know the size to give an opinion on what it is used for. I will say there would be no reason to gild the inside, if it was for sugar. It doesn't look French to me, it looks German. The mark on the top doesn't look like the grosse guarantee mark to me, the spacing looks wrong. The marks on the base are illegible, but the cartouches are not correct for a French piece. I would suggest that you take a softened wooden toothpick or a cotton squab and some silver polish to clean them up a bit and then try to use the macro setting on your camera. Then you might ask an administrator to move it to unknown European.

Sorry,
Maurice

By the way, a picture of the interior of the base might help.
Maurice

No worries - I'll see if I can get better images of the hallmarks, trying the cleaning suggestion as well.

The size - it is approx. 20cm tall by 6.5cm wide at the widest point (across the mouth).

I bought it as a sugar castor, but when I started to consider the potential age (given my assumption about the French mark indicating pre 1840) I was starting to question that function, as I believe sugar castors didn't come into popular use until 1860's or so.

Try this picture for a better shot of the marks. (Taken on its side, so you need to rotate 90 degrees)

Hello all,

I originally posted this on the France thread, but my research indicates perhaps this is a Dutch piece?

This is a sugar castor, approx. 20cm tall by about 6.5cm wide.

There are three marks, one on the lid, two on the body. The upper mark I wasn't sure if it is the French Minerva, or the Dutch version?

On the body, there appears to be a lion rampant, and a CB with a star below. The letters could also be a CH with a star below. A CR would also be a possibility. However using a loupe, I think CB is most likely.

http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?i ... MG8495.jpg
http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?i ... MG8501.jpg

Your assistance is greatly appreciated - I just want to know more about this piece, it is not for sale.

The CB star mark looks very similar to a mark associated with 'Begeer'? However there isn't a date mark to be found. Thoughts welcomed!

Hi welcome to the forum,

Yes, CB above a star for; C.J Begeer, Koninklijke (Royal) Utrechtse Fabriek van Zilverwerken, this particular mark used 1865-1919. For more information see:
http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28590.
For the other marks Minerva head and lion rampant or 1st standard mark see :
http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=32028
There should be a date letter which could be ‘hidden’ in the decoration but the Louis XVI revival style indicates early 20th century.


Oel.

With clear pictures the marks are obvious, although I should have recognized the cartouches, being upside down threw me off.
I still don't understand the gilding on the inside, and would like to see interior pictures to see if it is repoussee or cast decoration.
I don't know where you got the information about sugar castors being post 1860, but it is very inaccurate.
Maurice

In Dutch we call this ‘zilveren strooibus’ and not unusual to be gilded inside, could be used for sugar powder or cacao or other spices but also could have been part of a cruet set and accompanied by a mustard pot.

Oel.