Hand carved? silver chopsticks no hallmarks

Brief mention that this is my first post and it is a last resort.



I auction hunt allot and collect furniture. Over a year ago the auction house went under and I ended up with almost 150 lbs of mostly silver-plate (found some 925 some stainless) for something ridiculous like $20. I have finally dove in and over the last two weeks sorted by maker, then pattern. Lets say I've learned allot.

I found these chopsticks in the box. They have no markings, but past the silver tests. They were not magnetic and melted straight through ice. The look, feel, and ring like silver.

I am curious about the groves in the way the chop stick is shaped and the groves where the design appears to be chiseled. Also, I am not sure how to reference the patterns. I would would like to know who made them, when they were made, and who likely would have used them.

Any help or direction is greatly appreciated.

 

I think this engraving technique is called 'bright cut', 'bright cutting' and I've also seen it spelled 'brite cut'.

That's about all the info I can offer.

 

It is not "bright cut",but the photo is too small to see exactly which style it is.

 

If those really are solid silver chopsticks, I'm jealous as hell.

 

It always helps to know how big or how small things are.

 

Maybe hairsticks?

 

That's what I was wondering, Andy. It would be nice to have length information as a possible indicator of use.

 

Not always. Some chopsticks can be bloody tiny. They do make really small traveling pairs and such. And at any rate, sticking chopsticks in one's hair is a major faux-pas in Asian culture.

If they're regular chopstick size, they'll be about six inches long or thereabouts.

 

What is "melted straight through ice"?A magnet test only tells you if something is magnetic,most modern sterling is rhodium plated and will be slightly magnetic.

If they are Japanese the technique for the design is called Hori engraving which is a combination of engraving and chasing.

 

I'm sorry. I meant to include the length. 7 1/2"

 

Hey, Hollyblue. I'll have to look into Hori engraving. Thank you for the info. The "ice test" is based on the thermal conductivity properties of silver. I learned about it at the following link (method number 3) http://www.wikihow.com/Test-Silver

 

I'll try an increase the photo sizes in this reply. I have taken a bunch of photos but I didn't want to be a memory hog on my first post.




Hope these help. If there is something specific you want me to capture a photo of please let me know.

 

Taylor Swift at the beach....please !

 

Cross threading and T. Sway be like.....

 

Still laughing.

Welcome.

 

Thank you...she's got nice chop sticks !!!

 

So I looked into the Hori engraving and couldn't find much information beyond work done on swords.

 

Hori is a general term i.e. metal engraving,tattooing,wood carving,etc. Revere Academy offers special classes at times,though there are few photos of the work.

http://crafthaus.ning.com/events/hori-japanese-engraving-with

 

Thanks Hollyblue!

 

Don't come here last, if you are worried you're asking a trifling question, Loxias

Feel free to post the pictures you think will help!