Featured Little German silver thing...

Hey folks!

I believe this is German silver, imported to Sweden. It would be great to know the maker and approx. time, but I would love to know what these were used for.
Height approx. 6 cm (2.4 inches).

Thanks in advance!
Erik

 

Nice little 'thing', and indeed German.
The mark looks like that of Lutz & Weiss, Pforzheim, founded in 1882.
I agree, imported in Sweden, the tiny mark in the last photo.

 

I wonder if the little cutie sat on top of something. Maybe on a hip flask, as a lid/drinking cup?

 

Based on where the Mark's are placed I would guess a container of some sort missing it's lid.
Mikey

 

Confusion...
"German silver" is not actually silver, it is a copper alloy with nickel and zinc.
Your item is marked 830, so it is actually silver... silver from Germany, rather than "German silver"?

 

nice silver..... missing it's top.

 

kinda reminds me of this.. https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/152...MIuOba8bLAggMVRERyCh2AiAgvEAQYByABEgKGYvD_BwE

 

The term 'German silver' for nickel silver isn't used in Continental Europe. It is only used in English, although the term nickel silver is also used.
So Erik and I, both Continentals, didn't even think of the nickel silver confusion, to us it is simply German silver, the real deal.
Maybe use 'German silver' for nickel silver, and German silver for actual silver? Or simply call it nickel silver? I'd hate to think real silver has to give up its place for nickel silver.

More recently, Chinese sellers introduced the term 'Tibetan silver' for a similar base alloy, in spite of the fact that Tibet has a long history of making impressive objects from high grade silver.
So when I try to find real Tibetan silver, I get pages and pages of junk.

 

A silver item made in Germany is clearer. Obviously not nickel silver with the 800 stamp.

 

I didn't realize it was a regional-use term, thanks!

 

It seems 'German silver' refers to paktong or alpaca, a subtype of nickel silver. So not all nickel silver is 'German silver'.
We use both alpaca and paktong as terms for this specific nickel silver alloy, but in this link you can find why English speakers use the term 'German silver':

https://www.mgsrefining.com/blog/what-is-alpaca-silver/