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Hello, All,

I inherited a unique and beautiful silver piece that my family has always affectionately called, the Bat Lady. I have a hand-written and signed letter that provides a solid provenance connecting her to Count Andrassy, Hungary's first Prime Minister.

The Bat Lady measures approximately 19" tall with a 7" base, and she weighs around 6 pounds. The .800 silver piece is hallmarked Austrian/Hungarian, either 1867-1872, or 1872-1922. (It’s very hard to tell.) The city mark is a letter P, for Pest, or Budapest. However, the maker's mark is very difficult to make out.

Unfortunately, I've had no luck identifying her maker. I've researched, written emails to individuals as well as institutions, but with no luck. And, while everyone has an idea as to who are the figures and what was the purpose of the piece... no one knows for certain. The hand-written letter claims that she was used during certain times of the year to burn incense for the purpose of warding off vampire spirits. (However, I believe she was used as a pouring vessel.)

So, I'm here asking for any assistance in identifying the talented creator of the Bat Lady. And, Please, don't hesitate to ask further questions. I do love talking about, and sharing ideas about the Bat Lady!

Thank You, All.
X
X

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Can you post images of all of the marks, and a large, sharp close-up of the maker's mark?

Trev.

Trev,

Of course.

X
X

They are so tiny that's it's somewhat hard to get the whole image in focus.

Hope these help.

Thanks, again.

Hello,

I think it is your hallmark. Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Oh, sorry, I see you already know country's hallmark, the question was about maker.

Hi,

Indeed Austro- Hungarian Empire, Diana facing right used 1867-1872, 3=800 fineness, P regional assay office letter for Pest, Hungary.
The maker's mark, in a damaged triangle, unknown to me.
Source; World Hallmarks volume I Europe 19th to 21st centuries.

Oel.

Thanks for the help so far.

As for the maker's mark, I don't think it's damaged - rather, the stamp was placed over a design element on the piece.

But, you might be correct, and the mark might be damaged, as well as ill-placed. : ^\

Hello!
I think, your item made by Bachruch Antal, in Pest.

Best regards!
Krisztián

This brought a tear to my eye!

By Jove, I think he's got it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hi, just to correct my mistake; the Diana head facing left without a regional assay office letter within the mark was used from 1867-1872.
From 1872-1922, the same Diana was used with a regional assay office letter(?) within the mark.
See image source; World Hallmarks volume I Europe 19th to 21st centuries.


Best,

Oel.