Featured Old spoon? What are these marks?

Found this today and thought it was very interesting. Paid $10 for it and I have never seen these marks before anywhere. Can anyone identify them? The piece itself looks very old and made by hand possibly? Any help is appreciated as always. I hope I can find more about it!

 

Just a guess but the Netherlands? Gorgeous spoon.

 

GORGEOUS markings!!!!! Love that crest!!!!

 

Appropriate terms : a trefid rat-tail spoon, I don't know the marks but I'd say it is that style rather than that period..

 

No time to check into it, but I think those are Swiss marks, and suspect it may be late 17th - early 18th century...

~Cheryl

 

See you posted this on 925-1000 - likely others will post as they check in...

http://www.925-1000.com/forum/index.php

~Cheryl

 

I don't know the marks, but several French towns had a variation on the X mark for 'maison commune' or town hall mark. Presumably the assay office resided in the town hall?
Hope this helps.

 

Have very little time right now, but here is a similar
Zurich 'Z' mark from 1672:

Hopefully a 925-1000 member who is quite knowledgeable on Swiss marks will check in soon, but on another forum, he mentions the 'Z' mark: "the Zürich “Z” which was used, in various forms, from 1547 until it was replaced by the city arms in 1779 (although there is ample evidence that it was used by some makers until the end of the 18th century)"...

~Cheryl

 

I just found it in Tardy, the last one they show with a diagonal line dates from 1667, but that doesn't mean it wasn't used later as well:

 

And the answer from 925-1000 member 'blakstone', an extremely reliable source:

"Zurich is correct; the maker is Hans Conrad Lavater (1660-1735; master 1684). I would date this spoon around 1700. Nice find!

Ref: Eva-Maria Lösel, Zürcher Goldschmiedemunst (Zürich: Berichthaus, 1983), p. 241, maker/marks #337

http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=53621

~Cheryl

 

Thank you! I admit I was doubtful I was going to actually find out but I am happy I did! Can't believe this spoon has alluded the scrapper all these years. Must have been stashed away for quite awhile considering the shape it is in just to end up on a table at a flea market with 1000s of people walking by it. Most of these spoons this old have their markings worn down a considerable amount. I must also say I am pleasantly surprised how much they go for online, although I have no intent to sell!

 

for 10 bucks......nice pick.....
your eye is getting better...........