www.925-1000.com

Hi guys and gals, I'm new to the forum. I was searching Google for information on this silverplated jewelry box (?) that I picked up while I was helping someone move some furniture to a Goodwill donation center.

The people I was helping didn't really have any idea about it but after I cleaned it up with some metal polish it looks quite nice.

The bottom has two stamps; "Bellini Prata 90" and "31" and then there's a small handle type thing on the lid that also has "31" stamped into it. I have also provided some pictures in case anyone can help me figure out what this is, who made it.

(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

The inside also smells and looks like its lined with cedar.

Thanks,
John

I would not be sure that it is silver plate. It could be solid silver (prata in Portuguese) .
I suggest you do a test to ensure.
Good luck
Amena

Bellini is a Brazilian manufacturer and I would suggest that the box is most likely to be plated with the 90 being a measure of the amount of silver used in the plating process. For more information on the use of "90" on plated items see here: http://www.925-1000.com/a_platenumbers.html

Phil

Thanks guys. I apologize for not following my due diligence and accessing all the resources the site has to offer. I will make sure I do some exhaustive research before consulting the forum next time.

I did do some googling as well and found that it is probably Brazillian, but I couldn't find much on this particular box itself.

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I think I may be wrong about it being plated. I found this site ( admin edit) and performed a few tests on it.

I have a few super strong magnets that did not at all seem attracted to it, and these magnets will attract paper clips through a couple magazines place between them. I also dropped bleach on it and it tarnished immediately (which I know plated silver will do that too). And I also placed an ice cube on it and it started to turn to liquid far quicker than just sitting on the table or even in the stainless steel sink in my kitchen.

I'm thinking of taking it to a jeweler to do an acid test (but I'm afraid that plated silver might also pass this test). Otherwise, I'm not really sure what else I can do. Googling "Bellini prata 90" brings up a lot of stuff unrelated to precious metals, but it also brings up stuff about silverware and other types of metalware.

I google-checked the meaning of "Prata 90" and I think that Phil is right: this is silverplate.
All tests that you did can not prove anything.
The acid test, if done in the proper way, can prove whether it is solid silver or silverplate.
Best
Amena

Thanks for the response. That was my next avenue to take to determine its authenticity.

Hey All!

So I have this EXACT same jewerly box... I'm inclined to believe this is solid (well 92.5%) silver for a few reasons.... One of those being mine has bright red velvet on the inside, but if you take out the lining inside it's actually very thin. Additionally no part of it is megnatic, plus on mine the lid hinge broke, I tried to weild it back with a soliding Iron and solid, it would not hold (as I understand solid won't work on pure silver?)

Last, mine is a hand-me-down to my ex fiancee' from her great grandmother... My ex was from a extremely wealthy family and all her jewerly she ever got from her grandmother was always solid gold or silver with real dimonds, I'd find it odd they'd care to make sure everything else was of such high quality and not the jewerly box?

However, the difference in mine is that it has "Bellini" imprinted on the bottom, then "made in barzil" right under it. It doesn't have a 31 stamped under the lid, or a 90 anywhere. Idk if this would mean anything different, but Im't certain it's identical to the one in the imagines. Even has those small circle imprints where it was smoothes on the bottom of the box and lid.

If anyone confirms this please let me know!

Silver plated !
There are hundreds of Bellini items being offered online for a couple of euros (prices in Brazilian Real).
For example: 12 ice cream bowls with spoons, weight 2 700 grams for Euro 100. (That`s funny: mentioning weight for the price tag Euro 100. O tempora, o mores).
Sometimes, it is clearly described as silver-plated:
``BELLINI - Elegant set in silver-coated metal for children, consisting of 3 pieces, a deep plate, a spoon and a mug, manufactured by Bellini Brazil in the mid-20th century.``

All evidence mentioned in previous posts are circumstantial and invalid.
Is still in doubt, test it: acid test is reliable only if deeply filed to reach base metal. After all, it`s only mid 20th century, not much harm done if filed where it cannot be seen.
Regards