www.925-1000.com

My mother gave me this piece and suggested I look up the mark, but I don't know where to begin. How can I tell if it is American, German, French, etc? I would post a photograph, but the mark is so worn I can barely see it with a magnifying glass, I doubt a photograph would be much help.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Hi,
All I can suggest is that you go to our main site, Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Maker's Marks and familiarize yourself with the marks of American, German, French, etc silver.

Regards, Tom
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I've looked through every last page of the encyclopedia and can't find it.
The symbol is a laurel wreath, something like this:


followed by:

STERLING 2 [upside down T] 8 [upside down T] PAT'P
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There were many American firms that used a laurel wreath in their mark.
Most had an initial or symbol inside the wreath.
Here's a couple of examples:



Pat.
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thank you Pat, but there is nothing within the laurel wreath. and the metal within the wreath mounds up, so I don't believe a mark was there and worn down.

What does the upside down T mean?

There is another mark on the opposite side of the lid, the numeral 1. Is there any significance to this?
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I don't know what the upside down T's or the number 1 refer to.
My books don't show a laurel wreath by itself, so I can't help much.

Pat.
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