Featured Italian silver hallmarks

Was browsing a local shop and found a silver box with marks I was not sure about. They were similar or identical to what I picture here and included ITALY. In searching, I find this picture posted on a Martha Stewart site saying that IAB is a designation for sterling. I can not seem to verify this elsewhere. Do I need to rush back and buy this $10.00 box?


Source: (Scroll down to #17)

Our Guide to Silver Marks Will Help You Identify Every Piece in Your Collection

 

The link freezes for me, so I can't scroll down.
I would say IAB was the maker, not the fineness, and Italy didn't use sterling (.925) at the time. But the first crowned head, the one in the round cartouche looks like the Italian national mark for .950 fineness, used from 1872-1933.
The bigger head reminds me of an Austrian Diana head, but slightly different.

@DragonflyWink ?

 

Thanks. There are 3 different head marks for Italian silver but they are so similar to each other that I can't tell them apart. Maybe the corresponding number is the designate? This picture shows the number 8 but I can not tell you what number was on the one I saw.

 

Hell, yes! I'll cover you if you have regrets, Brad...

 

Did you go back and get it, Brad? Inquiring minds want to know

 

Very few of her utterances are worthy of serious consideration, imho.

 

Just posted this awhile ago. Still not sure this isn't plate. I am going to be out and about so may swing by and get it anyway. Would be nice to know for sure. One site mentions that you need to beware of Italian marks with additional notations along with purity marks. I think this is mostly in reference to numerical purity marks but not sure. Seems Italian marks are a bit of a minefield.

 

I wish we could see the box. For $10 even I would splash out for it .

 

First of all, believe Martha has spent a little too much time with Snoop, because that page is just filled with silly misinformation.

Really would be nice to see the piece and actual marks, but understand the situation. Italian silver makers in the 20th century did use faked old marks, and I'm a bit troubled by an 'ITALY' stamp.

Like AJ, believe the 'IAB' would be a maker's mark, first to admit that my eyes are failing, but am having a hard time seeing a crowned head in the second mark, the third mark is an 1826-32 Sicilian .833 mark, shown at bottom right in the pic, but have no idea whether genuine or not...



https://www.silvercollection.it/NAPLESHALLMARKS.html


~Cheryl

 

My favorite nonsense from that Martha Stewart page - '18 Italian Silver' is actually Danish silverplate, 'SCF' the maker:





~Cheryl

 

Went back and it was gone. Seems I was right to be hesitant but we will never know. Having handled a fair amount of silver, the piece seemed too heavy for solid silver and I knew not to trust Martha.

 

Weight is a real tip off. Likely was plate.