German Trinket Box

Do you think it’s “German Silver” or solid 830 or so silver?

 

Without other marks beyond Germany I wouldn't make an assumption either way. Has a bit of a Hanau look to the decor.

 

I don't know, Kard, but I'm thinking that with that wood lining, it's a cigarette box...

If it's really silver, it should have a (hard to find?) mark somewhere?

 

I’ll clean it and see if something will pop up.

 

The wood lining looks to be red cedar.....makes me think cigar box, but I don't see a size.

 

Like the cupids teasing the frog? duck? with a cattail.

 

Don’t know if that’s patina or what but does not come off easily.

 

Ah, thanks. Definitely a frog.

If it isn't spreading corrosion, & doesn't look to be, I say leave it. Not meant to look brand spanking new & brings out the design.

 

I sold the box to a buyer from Hungary. He wants to return now claiming it’s not silver but silver plated.
I did not title nor described the box as solid silver but German Hanau silver. But I did not use the term “plated” either.
Was that misleading?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Ge...609632?hash=item1f0e94a860:g:964AAOSwEg9emM9F

The buyer also sent me a picture with the test result. Not sure how to read it.

 

If he put acid directly on the box, you may have an issue to raise with him.

 

What does the test tell us? Do you need to use different solutions for different fineness of silver?

 

I wouldn't be able to help, but maybe somebody else here would, if you wanted to post the picture?

Also, my understanding is that the acid test is not used to distinguish between solid silver and silverplate. I think it's to distinguish between either of those and some other metal. But I'm not an expert on that at all.

 

@kardinalisimo, I don't know what all those swirls mean on the bottom, other that someone worked awfully hard to clean something off, IMHO!! But, where the TOP left and right corners are darkened might show something with a magnifying glass....just not sure....left corner looks like initials JB.....I can't tell what's in the right.....worth a look though....it's inverted...which sometimes shows things up.....

 

You're right, Fig. Without a deep gouge into the material, the acid will only read the surface (which in plate is silver alloy.)

 

ALSO, KEEP that magnifier handy, as AT THE BOTTOM of the SCENE WITH THE CUPID TEASING the FROG.....there IS WRITING AND NUMERALS across the bottom....it's just VERY tiny......I can't read much of it and you have the item in hand...don't know IF or How Much of it would be Pertinent.... still worth a read!!!

 

Pardon me, Aquitaine. The box is in the hands of the Hungarian buyer (who bought it in April.) Thousands of miles away from Kard, I'm afraid.

 

Sheesh.....Kard did write that....thanks Bakers.....I get wrapped up in editing and don't go back and re-read newer posts!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry!! Let the new owner figure that one out!

 

Hmm. Was just reading that a green acid test result indicates the presence of copper, but the whole photo looks blue-green to me, not silver-grey.

This should have tipped off buyer that box would not be sterling & could be as low as 750 silver. The info is out there, e.g., see https://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau.html IV One last thing Since you yourself did not know fineness, or whether plated or not, & made no representations on this subject, caveat emptor.