www.925-1000.com

[quote]This is a miniature bucket (H: 3 cm) with a pierced base for use as a sieve. It has a wire handle with a central loop which holds another U-shaped wire. It looks as if the prongs of the latter wire could be pushed into something to hold the bucket upright while something (?mulled wine spices?) was being strained through it. The main mark looks like a bound ?sheaf with a star and the letter D in the field to the left. There is another mark on one prong. It is very beautifully worked so we hope someone might recognise where it was made and what its function might have been. Many thanks in advance. Noel[/quote]

http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=s ... rainer.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=s ... botton.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=s ... mark_1.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://sv1.letmehost.com/img.php?file=s ... mark_2.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can't say that I recognize the mark, but it's a tea strainer that hangs from the spout of a teapot.

Cheryl ;o)

[quote]Dear Cheryl - Thanks for getting back. We thought of tea strainer but as it didn't work particularly well in ours thought maybe it had another use. Now if someone can identify the marks or place of origin... N.[/quote]

Can't say I recognize the marks either, but my gut feeling is that they are Belgian.
As to the purpose, it is a teabasket, but missing the V shaped spring. This piece is wedged up into the teapot spout, allowing the basket to dangle between spout and cup while pouring.
Regards, Tom

I think Tom is right about the teastrainer, to wegde up into the teapot spout. We had quiet a lot of them in Holland in the 19th Century.
I think the origine is France, late 19th early 20th Century.

Best regards,
Athos

Hi,
Sorry, I see now that your piece has the spring, picture is so large (26x19 inches) that I can only view little pieces of it at a time on my screen.
Tom

[quote]Dear Tom and Athos - Thank you for getting back so quickly and apologies for the giant image (I'll try next time to reduce it a bit). I'm away on holiday for the next couple of weeks but will try to check out some of the marks when I return to see if we can narrow it down between French or Belgian - unless anyone out there has easy access to Tardy or some other ideas. Thanxxxx Noel[/quote]

Dear Noel Adams,

The maker's mark in a rectangle form:

If it's silverplate, it is a french makers's mark. mid 19thc. from 1838 till....

If it's sterling silver, continental standard:
It can be a Dutch maker early 19th c.
or a Belgian maker's mark from 1814- to 1868 period.

It looks like something second part of the19th with this kind of ornamentation

I cannot read the other mark: too small.

If i can read that one, then i can tell you with more precision.

Silvery yours
Martine

Dear Martine

Many thanks for your reply and apologies for not getting back sooner - I was away on holiday for a fortnight.

The piece is definitely silver not plate. I agree though that the decoration looks like it could be later in the 19th century.

I will try to get a better picture of the other mark but won't be able to organise it until next week.

Thanks again,

Noel