Featured 1730s Prussian silver goblet - Hallmarked in Berlin (??)

I have consulted this:

http://www.925-1000.com/Faustria_02.html

...and it has not been of great help.

I bought this:



And it has these, on the base:



I believe the one on the left is supposed to be an animal, and the one on the right is a letter (indicating assay hall). But I just can't make head or tail of them.

 

I can't really see what they are either, but I will say that I don't think these marks are either Austrian or Austro-Hungarian. The assay city letters for both of those regimes would be in the same cartouche with the quality mark, not separate as your marks seem to be.

Did the person you got these from tell you they were Austro-Hungarian?

I'll look further in the morning. It's very late here.

 

I bought it from a local auction house. They were selling a whole heap of Austro-Hungarian stuff (about half a dozen pieces). This was one of them.

Here are the marks on the base of the cup, in greater detail:

 

Very nice Shangas.
Further north than Austro-Hungarian: Berlin. The animal is the bear, symbol of Berlin. Mind you, it will get dizzy standing on its head.
http://hallmarkwiki.com/?ShowHallmark=15815
http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_marks_b1884.html

 

Thanks AJ

So, it's German. And it's assayed in Berlin. Any idea how old it is, and what grade of silver? Experience tells me this is 800 or 830. Yes?

 

On the 925-1000 site it says that about 1745 an assayers letter mark was added within the standing bear's circle. Your goblet doesn't have that, so pre-1745?
You're right, German silver is usually 800 or 830-835, but sometimes more.

 

...are you telling me that this is an early 18th century goblet?

...I need to sit down and breathe for a minute...

 

You might have to check more information, this is just one site.
Others might be able to tell you more about German period styles. Berlin is in Prussia, by the way, that can help your search.

This site says the same about the letter:
http://gaukartifact.com/2013/03/11/german-hallmarks-makers/

Hope there are no Prussian silver fakes, but yours does look pretty old.

 

I've read that site, and a couple of others. They all back up what you told me earlier.

So is this goblet like...1730s German silver?

 

I don't know for sure, but sometimes you're just lucky. Maybe check with a museum?

I think you need a drink from that goblet now.

 

I'm trying to figure out who I should ask??

Is there anyone else here who would know more?

 

I'm sure they will be along later.
Meanwhile, here is a foundation for Prussian cultural heritage, part of the information is in English:
http://www.preussischer-kulturbesitz.de/en.html

Berlin city museum site:
https://www.en.stadtmuseum.de/

German historical museum, this site is in German only:
http://www.dhm.de/archiv/ausstellungen/silberkammer-luxemburg/

 

Thanks!

I have edited the title of the thread accordingly to our research.

 

Better photos of the goblet:




Here you can just see the hallmarks on the base... ^^^


280-odd years...nobody's engraved the side of the goblet...

 

I'm really glad that Any Jewelry was so helpful to you, Shangas. Middle of the night, my time. I doubt I would have caught on to the Berlin bear. I only knew what it wasn't.

I am wondering, though, whether that other mark is the remnants of a very worn 13, for 13 loth.

 

I don't know. I've researched the loths, and from what I understand, there's like, 4 or 5 grades.

12 = 750
13 = 812.
14 = 890.
15 = 930

or something like that.

I can't actually read what number it is. If anyone can decipher it for me, that'd be great!!

 

Well, I told you what it looked like it *might* be (to my eyes.) Once I've seen it, I can't unsee it, although it could certainly be something else to someone else.

 

True true.

I know it can only be a certain range of numbers though...but it's really unclear.

I have done more research and the Berlin-Bear-in-Oval hallmark, which I believe is the one that I have, dates to the early 18th century, according to one website. But it doesn't give me exact dates...

http://hallmarkwiki.com/?ShowHallmark=3696

 

I think you're right, the 3 in 13 loth is stamped in different styles on pieces from different periods and towns, so it could very well be.

 

13 would mean 812/1000 purity if I remember rightly.

Here's more pix...





Someone on another forum doesn't think it's 18th century. I'm honestly not sure what to think, now. I don't see any reason to think it isn't.