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Antique skewer

Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:11 pm
by niceguy1
HI

I have this skewer like small utensil with a tiny bowl at the tip.

Hallmarked with this round burst & a symbol. So what exactly is it & where was it made? it measures 11 1.2 cm long.

THANKS IN ADVANCE

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After cleaning up the marks a bit.

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Re: Antique skewer

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 2:40 am
by amena
The anvil is definitely the hallmark used in the Lombardo Veneto region from 1812 to 1872.
If you can make a clearer photo of the other mark or if you can identify which letters are there, I can try to identify the silversmith.
Amena

Re: Antique skewer

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:42 am
by agphile
It's a bodkin, used for threading tape etc.

Re: Antique skewer

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:18 am
by niceguy1
Thank you both.

The letters in the round hallmark are F G.

Re: Antique skewer

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:33 am
by amena
Unfortunately I have not found an exact match.
I can only suggest a guess
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There was in Milan the ancient workshop of silversmiths " The sun" since 1500 c.
In 1812, this shop is run by Carlo Maria Taddei whose mark is number 1
In 1838, this shop is run by Francesco Calvi. His mark is number 3, which, however, was found only once.
The mark number 2 is a mix of number 1 and number 3 and MAY have been used by Francesco Calvi. In 1846 he gave up sign of the sun to choose the sign of the star.
I offer this hypothesis as far as I can see from the pictures
Information from the book of Sambonet.

Re: Antique skewer

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:06 pm
by blakstone
Not a bodkin, but a "spadinn": an Italian ornamental hair-pin and part of a traditional headdress called a "sperada". See here: Italian Silver Hair-Pin: The 'Sperada'.