Help Identify Marking? Gothic Italian Antique Serving Bowl?

I came across the bowl at an estate sale I'm looking for more info about it. Who made it? When? I found an almost identical bowl that sold from an antiques dealer, but she couldn't give me much info other than the bottom of hers had a marking (mine doesn't). Can anyone identify the marking on the bottom? I see "ADAMS" and "made in Italy" but the second line is undecipherable. Any help is appreciated!

The first pic is my bowl, the second one is the dealers listing for hers, and the 3rd is the mark on the bottom of her bowl. Thanks for looking!

 

Welcome, Beth!

First thing that strikes me is the Made In Italy. The US laws regarding marking on foreign made items went into play a bit more than 100 years ago, so in theory, the bowl could be a true antique. But it does not guarantee that it is.

Second, what I can see of that second line, and the overall look of the letters (the font used in the r and e at the end line in particular,) makes me think more recent than 100 years old by several decades. Again, no guarantee.

I suspect the second line may have been a retailer for whom the item was made. I take it yours doesn't even have remnants of those marks - or even bits of random letters?

 

You know, looking at the other person's listing versus yours a second time, I wonder whether hers might be one of those "reproduction copies" of some much older design. Is the closeup pic at the end yours or another picture of hers?

 

Do you think the second word could be silverplate or ?plate maybe?

 

Given that the seller refers to silverplate being "worn off" in some places, it might be. I was thinking that the first letter of that last part might be a capital H, but it could also be just a portion of a p.

 

Honestly, I can't find any silver or remnants of silver on mine... It appears bronze or copper.

Mine is the closeup (last pic)

They appear identical, except for the marking and the emblem on the front. Mine appears larger and slightly different shape.

Thanks for the help so far! You guys are awesome!

 

Then the other difference between yours and hers is the angle of the dragons' neck swooping down into the bowl. Your dragons don't swoop, while hers do (and very significantly.)

Yours is less "refined" in it's details as well, which in my admittedly limited experience, may mean that yours is a knock-off of the other design. Don't get me wrong, it's interesting, just not the same.

 

Yes, you're right! I didn't notice the swooping necks on hers was more dramatic! But, I'd like to think hers is the knock off, not mine... (kidding)

 

I'll gladly take either! I am mentally filling one with apples and drippy grapes and lemons!