Posted 12 years ago
merlina
(1 item)
I would like to know any information about these forks.
I've got 4 of them, but I have no idea how old they could be and if the might be worth anything.
I tried to find the hallmark, but I can not find anything that looks like it.
Hope someone here nows more about it.
Kind regards,
Merlina
Gorgeous forks! Please tell us why you think that these are German? I don't recognize these marks, and I am fascinated by the presence of a mark that appears to represent the Star of David. There are quite a few people on this site who know a bit about silver. I'll leave this one - regretfully, to one of the more knowledgeable. Regards, miKKo
@miKKoChristmas11: (I didn't see a reply button, so I just commented normally)
Thanks for your comment. I think they are German because there is a mark on them that says silber 100 (and silber is german for silver). But it could be possible that they were made somewhere else off course.
And yes I guess that the star of David could mean that they were made by someone who is Jewish. There is also the letter A and B underneath the star (but it is really difficult to see so it could be other letters to).
Hi, Merlina! Thank you very much for your kind note. I will tell you that I have never seen forks like these, or solved a hallmarks case like this. I was hoping that Vetraio50, who is a silver wizard and a genius, would see this one. Somehow, he missed it. He still might see it.
I have no reference works at home suitable for working on this problem. I will travel to the nearest large library on Saturday, and check these marks against those in a very large and wonderful directory of Silversmiths. Last time I consulted this work, I was unsuccessful in my search. It is good for the nineteenth century, but it doesn't cover beyond circa 1910, I think. Still, it might have your maker. I will try my best. Thank you for letting me work on this. If Vetraio50 comes along and starts, hooray! If he doesn't, and I fail to ID these splendid forks, I'll hunt him down and ask him to take a look. See you Saturday! miKKo
Hi, Merlina! I have done a little research on this, and so far all I've been able to determine is that they are probably silverplate. I think that the "20" designates the silver 'amount' that was deposited onto the base metal. I found an article that explains this type of marking in detail, and I will provide it as soon as I can read the entire hallmark. I need to read the entire hallmark to ensure that the "20" doesn't refer to something else in this case. I cannot see on your forks a designation that the 'silver is 100'. Please explain. I cannot discern an "A D", although I think that you are here referring to the marks underneath the Star of David. Could you please provide one or more better photos of the hallmarks? I will be looking at German, Austrian, etc. hallmarks. Thank you very much! miKKo