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A silver container

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:30 am
by amena
I saw this container, of which I do not know the use.
it is very decorated, like a silver from Hanau.
Image

Image
I only recognized the "Dolphin in the triangle" mark used 1893-1905 and that's why I posted it in the Dutch silver section.
Can anyone give me information?
Thanks
Amena
P.S. Please forgive the bad photos

Re: A silver container

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:59 am
by oel
Hi Amena,

No sizes are given but to me it appears to be an over decorative tea caddy. Dolphin and crowned trefoil (?), are those the only marks?
The Dutch dolphin mark; the 1859-1905 duty mark for new unguaranteed objects of national origin. This mark was used on all new silver objects below legal standard of fineness, those with non-precious metal additions, and on new heavily gold or silver plated objects, as long as the average precious metal content after melting with the base metal was at least 250/1000. It was also struck on rejected objects which had been submitted at lowest standard of fineness. In that case the maker had to choose between destruction or unguaranteed marking. This mark was sometimes also mistakenly used on old and foreign objects.

Peter.

Re: A silver container

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2019 10:59 am
by amena
Thanks Peter.
Yes, from the size it could be a tea caddy.
I only saw these marks on the bottom.
Best
Amena