Page 1 of 1
Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 6:35 am
by Gonzague
Hello,
I am new here. I miss id for the following salt cellar, about 8cm high.
I can read "ET" on each piece, written upside down, but under the base, there is what I believe to be a hallmark, a head, maybe?
Thank you for helping!

Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 6:57 am
by dognose
Hi Gonzague,
Welcome to the Forum.
Please try to capture a much larger close-up of mark shown, and also of the other marks that you mention.
Trev.
Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:32 am
by oel
Hi, regarding ET, this could be a French warning mark that indicated that the item was below minimum French fineness standards.The ET mark comes from the first two letters of the French word for foreign- etranger. First used only in Paris 1864 on items imported from non-treaty countries, the ET mark was extended for use by all regional assay offices in 1893, and is still in use. After 1994, the meaning of the ET mark changed. While it was still a warning indicating an item was below standard, the ET mark now served two other functions. The first of these is to indicate an estate item that is to be sold at public auction or by municipal credit union that is acting as a pawn service. Secondly, the markmay applied to items that have an artistic or curiosity value, but because of teir lower standard of fineness, do not warrant a full quarantee mark.
Please show us a clear enhanged image of of the ET mark and all other marks.
Source Hallmark Research Institute World Hallmarks- Vol.1-Europe
Oel.
Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:33 am
by Gonzague
Hi, thank you, you are right, here are they:
I tried my best...
Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:41 am
by Gonzague
Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:41 am
by Gonzague
oel wrote:Hi, regarding ET, this could be a French warning mark that indicated that the item was below minimum French fineness standards.The ET mark comes from the first two letters of the French word for foreign- etranger. First used only in Paris 1864 on items imported from non-treaty countries, the ET mark was extended for use by all regional assay offices in 1893, and is still in use. After 1994, the meaning of the ET mark changed. While it was still a warning indicating an item was below standard, the ET mark now served two other functions. The first of these is to indicate an estate item that is to be sold at public auction or by municipal credit union that is acting as a pawn service. Secondly, the markmay applied to items that have an artistic or curiosity value, but because of teir lower standard of fineness, do not warrant a full quarantee mark.
Please show us a clear enhanged image of of the ET mark and all other marks.
Source Hallmark Research Institute World Hallmarks- Vol.1-Europe
Oel.
Oh, ok, thank you!
Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:45 am
by oel
Thanks, the other mark is the Belgian Janus head standard mark for silver 833/1000 fineness used 1831-1869. The standard mark should be accompanied by a guarantee mark disinguised by a Greek warrior head/Minerva head.
For more information see:
http://www.ascasonline.org/articoloSETTE65.html
http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html
NB The Janus head is for
833/1000 fineness and not 800/1000 as mentioned by the websites.
Oel.
Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 8:25 am
by Gonzague
Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 8:26 am
by AG2012
I can read "ET" on each piece
That`s important when buying silver items assembled of different parts.
Is it cut glass? How is glass fixed to silver? I think it`s a genuine piece because it`s almost impossible to find glass perfectly fitting on this type of salt cellars.
Regards
Re: Unknown mark on a salt cellar
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 9:31 am
by Dendriet
AG2012 wrote:.
Is it cut glass? How is glass fixed to silver? I think it`s a genuine piece because it`s almost impossible to find glass perfectly fitting on this type of salt cellars.Regards
I think it could be cut crystal Val Saint Lambert.