Is this from Italy? or France?

PHOTOS REQUIRED - marks + item
Post Reply
Andreadb
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2021 12:29 pm

Is this from Italy? or France?

Post by Andreadb »

Hello!
Another mistery piece...this sugar bowl (?) is in vermeil; I have acid tested it and confirmed it is silver. The general style and the pattern on the edges makes me think it might be from Italy or France, however there is only one hallmark and I could not identify it. It even looks like it could be a hallmark placed right on top of another. Can anybody identify it?
On the top edge of the bowl there is also another very tiny "mark", but I am not sure if it is a hallmark or simply a defect of the fusion; the mark edges are quite regular, but, is it a hallmark? and, if yes, where from?
See the pictures:
Image
Image
Image
amena
contributor
Posts: 1427
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:42 am

Re: Is this from Italy? or France?

Post by amena »

The mark you show in the photo represents the one in force in the papal state since 1815.
Image
What I cannot say, however, given the double stroke and the poor quality of the imprint, is whether it is genuine or not.
This mark is frequently faked and, according to the rules, it cannot be alone, it must always be accompanied by the silversmith's mark. It should also be present on both the lid and the body of the sugar bowl.
Best
Amena
Andreadb
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2021 12:29 pm

Re: Is this from Italy? or France?

Post by Andreadb »

Thank you Amena,

You have a sharp eye!! I had looked at all the Italian states hallmarks, but I could not associate it to any. Now that you put them side by side, it looks quite obvious...
The lid also has the same mark, I did not include it in my original post, but here it is.

What about the very tiny one? What do you think? Is it a hallmark or not?
Image
amena
contributor
Posts: 1427
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:42 am

Re: Is this from Italy? or France?

Post by amena »

The small mark is too dark to understand what it is, but I don't think it can be a silversmith's mark.
The marks of Roman silversmiths of the time are contained in a lozenge with two letters and a number.
Below is an example of that period hallmarks
Image
Best
Amena
Post Reply

Return to “Other Countries”