Silver letter opener.

Hi,
during my recent trip to France I have purchased Silver + Ivory letter opener.
After the purchase I had a look on line and to my surprise I have found exactly the same(only difference is that one of the hallmarks on mine is 1mm more to the left than it is on the one which was sold on the website) Silver-Ivory letter opener on UK website.

http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/178411/french-silver-and-ivory-letter-opener-paperknife/

I didn't have microscope with me so I couldn't check the hallmark on the handle.
Checked the hallmarks on the handle as soon as I came back and I can't see anything identifiable.
There are some minuscule left overs of the hallmark visible at 150x magnification.

Would someone know how it comes that there are two exactly same pieces ?
Would that mean that my opener is fake ?


Thank you very much for your help

 

The faint hall marks could mean that it has been used a lot and worn away the hallmarks. Or, when being hallmarked, the force used to stamp wasn't enough to
make clear marks. Doesn't necessarily mean your piece is a fake.

 

I buy antique silver sewing items such as thimbles and pin cushions and the marks are often rubbed through use and over zealous polishing, Your silver letter opener is most likely genuine and just used a lot.

 

Many thanks for replies

Just came back from local antique shop.

1; he would not be able to sell this opener unless he gets it tested for silver
2; blade is not from bone (otherwise it would have black crack lines)
3; he showed us ivory box he has for sale
Blade on opener and the box he showed us has same lines inside. Generally I couldn't spot any difference between box and blade.

If I look at the blade in right angle and with fluorescent light I can see lines inside of the blade.Lines are of same colour as the top surface.

I'm going to get the handle tested.Girlfriend knows a guy who deals with jewellery/metals.

What I don't understand why there would be two same pieces ?

 

Do you mean that you can see striations on the Ivory such as criss cross lines?

On genuine Ivory you can usually see lines on the edges where its been cut.

 

As for having two pieces the same some items were mass produced.

 

I'm going to upload a photo.

 

By the way if its French then the hallmarks would have been tiny, Even a good French hallmark can be very hard to read and date, French hallmarks are a nightmare to decipher sometimes.

 

Yes, it is French.

Shot cups I bought have hallmarks and I was able to identify them easily.
Cups were made by Andre Roberge.

 

I can't tell anything from the photo.

You said you are going to handle tested, How are they going to test it?

One way that Ivory is tested is with a red hot needle, If its Bone or Ivory it won't go through.

Its something I have done but its up to the individual if they want to risk it.

If you do that do it in an inconspicuous place.

 

If your item is identical to the one on your link, which bears proper, if a bit rubbed, French hallmarks, then yours is also most likely silver - please don't let anyone subject it to invasive testing (and hot needle tests are not really a good idea either). As already mentioned, can't see any reason to think that this would a one of a kind piece.

A clear picture of the blade on a plain background would be helpful, and might also consider taking an extreme close-up of the marks, sometimes they'll show up surprisingly well in a photograph...

~Cheryl

 

Another way I test for Ivory is to tap it on my bottom teeth, You can tell right away if its Ivory, Also plastic is lighter and warmer if you hold it to your cheek.

 

I can see lines on the photos I posted.
They might be completely irrelevant in identification of Ivory.

Ivory I have seen in Antique shop has same lines as the blade of opener.

 

Wait !!!
Do you have antique shop?
Did I visit your shop ?

Shop I went to, guy had the blade in his mouth right away lol.

 

Have you tried tapping it on your bottom teeth, I do this at fairs and its never failed me, It makes a sound like tapping pottery on your teeth, loud and clicky, plastic doesn't make that noise.

 

Lol....

 

I always thought that pieces like this were made to order and would be one of the kind lol.

At least it shows you that I have no clue

Opener was bought from this shop.
http://www.altmann-antiquites.com/photos

 

Tried to tap plastic and the blade.

Blade is louder than plastic(food container).

Tried it with coffee mug as well.

Blade is somewhere between plastic and coffee cup.

Stop laughing !!! Girlfriend is looking at me with a suspicious eye (WTF is he doing now)