Cameo Signature Help Needed

So, I have some thoughts on the surname, but it's not going to be an easy one to research (because: surnames that are others words -- like "may" -- never are), but what do you guys see?

 

J/F Ma&%*((*&

 

what she said...

 

okay, I'm going to let this go for a bit to see if anyone else chimes in.

I thought this one was kind of clear. Maybe I have some kind of "faux surname recognition" that's actually a form of apophenia.

 

In ink?

 

Since no one else is playing along, I see Mar?he(?)

It's hard to tell with the far right shadow (shows at white in the image below), but I think the name ends with "e". Yes there is more scribbling, but I suspect they are not part of the sig.

The statistically most likely surname is Marche. Which is problematic. It is an everyday word in both French (technically marché meaning market), and Italian (meaning brands).

So. Unless I've completely misread the thing which is possible. Always tough when working with one photo, one angle, one reflection of light... turn it just a little it might read completely differently.

 

I think I see the "c":

 

A nicely carved Silz:

 

I was dithering over whether or not to buy it. Know the seller & might be able to get a slight discount. I let it go & ended up buying this one for a whole lot more, as much to satisfy my & Jivvy's curiosity about the almost legible signature:





I have a handful of Silz/Sll pieces & am now considering carefully whether I want to put more money into others. Would if I lucked into a better one at a too-good-to-pass-up price.

 

Oooh, yours is very pretty!
Unfortunately, the signature is beyond the capability of my eyes.

EDIT: But it looks like it ends in "ier"?

 

Yes, Jivvy & I both see that as the most likely. We've batted around lier, tier, her, het. The style of the cameo is consistent with a French origin, & those are all reasonable endings for French surnames. When I lean to the side & look at the screen that way, the first letter looks very much like an A. (Jivvy gets credit for the image.)

Seller can't ship until next week, so we will have to wait a little to explore her secret.

 

That is a nice Silz.

 

Except when we think it's ser.

Looking forward to good pics.

 

Oh, right, that one too. Couldn't be more legible.

 

Another very nice Silz/Schmoll, with not so nice photos & very unnice price:

 

A rather nice Lamant:
(Seller says Joan of Arc?)

 

Reasonably sure that is not Joan, who was a village girl until she took up the military life. Not sure who cutter had in mind. St. Catherine of Alexandria is typically shown richly dressed, but usually with more jewels & often a crown.



Great specimen of the Lamant signature, duly added to the file.

 

They travel in packs:

 

My word! They are everywhere tonight:

 

@Jivvy Now you're back (so good to have you back!), a tidbit. This is from a link in another thread:



and see how both the 'ch' & final 'p' were made:



Friend 'Silz' was not alone in this flourish.