I have a box that opens backwards (crown and birds in the design align with hinges, not front); it does have beautiful engraving on the top and sides. It has 2 tiny marks which I have greatly enlarged on the inside and I have no idea of the following:
A]what it is used for
B] where it is from
C] Is it sterling or plate! Many thanks for looking,
Elizabeth
RFI - Marks Translation Mystery box possible sterling
Below is the reply I got privately from a member. I emailed them and they did give me permission to post it publicly but I have removed their name for privacy. Many thanks again to this helpful person and I hope others find this helpful too!
Dear Sir/Madam,
Just to let you know that this box is Iranian.
The mark on the left consists of arabic marks for 84, which is just a less pure standard of silver than sterling which is 92.5. Sometimes they will say 84 using european numbers.
The mark on the right is probably the makers name; it is written in farsi, the iranian language but I can't really read it.
I have got quite a few iranian silver things such as cigarette cases...I think they are really nice. I suppose I collect them really; if I ever come across them.
I think that the crown in the middle is for decoration and probably indicates that it is pre-revolution (pre-1979).
I hope that is helpful.