T100 mark on silver demitasse & saucer

This 2-3/4" diameter cup and very deep 4-1/2" diameter saucer are both marked "T100". Any clues fully appreciated.

 

I see that some think it is middle eastern silver mark meaning its 100% silver. "T" was started circa 1920.

 

Geez. 100% silver? That's pretty soft, isn't it?

Where did you see this Johnny?

 

http://www.smpub.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/001070.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Determine-Purity-of-Your-Silver&id=4416721

 

I once owned a pendant (on a chain) that was 100% silver and it was very soft (note the past tense). These pieces feel much sturdier, but they are also much thicker, so I can't really compare. As ridiculously spendthrift as my family could be, I do not see them shelling out for solid silver coffee cups, no matter WHO came to dinner.

BUT - as a child I drank my first cup of tea from this set and used it for years in the nursery. Now I wonder if it isn't actually intended as a child's set and not a demitasse set...............talk about being born with a silver spoon!!!!

 

They're talking "East Indian" not Middle Eastern. But if this were Kutch/Cutch I would expect it to be much fancier (but only from what I have seen online.)

 

Another one I'd buy for my collection.

 

Have seen the 'T' quality marks on both Indian and Cambodian silver, including '100', the marks are still in use, but the Cambodian marks are sometimes used on low quality or silverplate pieces. This set looks Indian to me, the shape and size pretty typical of their tea cups & saucers - doubt it had much age when you used it as a child, Mansons...

~Cheryl

 

Oh, what I meant to imply was that this MAY have been a (new) gift to me as a child and not purchased by the old folks as a demitasse coffee cup. Though that would give it a "few" decades of age by now.................

And who knows - my memory is so crowded with useless nonsense that I may be confusing this with a tin cup intended for a kid....though what EVER it was, it did have a saucer because I distinctly remember Nanny teaching me to balance it on my knee so that I would be ready for "grown-up" tea...........

 

Once again, my undying thanks to all for the research and opinions! To paraphrase the vernacular - "Youse Guys Rocks"!!!!

 

Okay - I thought you may like to see these pieces after they were cleaned up AND see why you should clean the up BEFORE you start photographing them.









The cup is 2-3/4" diameter by 1-3/4" tall and slightly out of kilter near the handle.



After cleaning I found these markings on the side of the saucer (4-3/8" diameter)

The only noticeable scratches are inb the bottom of the cup

 

Mansons, what interesting pieces you have posted the last few days! I've got nothing on this set. Oh wait a minute.....this cup and saucer must be from the deep south of India, southern Cambodia, or the southern part of whatever country. Turning the last pic of the saucer markings 180 degrees, the markings say "gift of y'all H4331."

--- Susan



gift of y'all H3341

 

you know, it almost DOES! And all joking aside, the idea that this may be Indian brings to mind a relatives suitcase - yes his suitcase!


I can't actually get to it right now (it is on a ledge over 8' up), but here's the best I can do:



The white text is actually stenciled directly on the case, which is approx. 20" by 40" and 10-12" deep.

And yeah, "looming homelessness" has me digging deep into the treasure troves these days

 

The markings are actually Gujarati (western India). Engraving on expensive silverware is common practive even today. I can't read the whole thing - but if you show it to a local Indian/Gujarati they can probably read it out to you.

http://www.ancientscripts.com/gujarati.html

 

The engraving is Gujarati (western India). I can't see it clearly but seems to read: "thay-bun put-raa tarafthi". This roughly translates to: From "thay-bun's" son.

Show it to somebody from western India and they should be able to read it properly.

http://www.ancientscripts.com/gujarati.html

 

It means "sent from son". It's 99 to 100% pure. It's think gauge helps it from deforming. Lower weighted artifacts protect themselves from deforming by clever design.

 

Hi Arun!

Welcome to Antiquers!

 

The writing means something like "given by son". It's pure 99-100%. It protects itself from deformities by having a higher gauge (thickness). It's worth almost it's wright in silver. Not to mention antiquity.

 

What an odd coincidence that two of Manson2005's VERY old discussion threads in the Silver category were resurrected by two different new members of the forum within 12 hours or so of each other. What are the chances? Just a strange coincidence, I assume. Maybe we should start summoning Mansons here again?

Here is the other thread. I also commented there.
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/quist-silverplate-candle-holder-any-ideas-on-age.423/