Little old silver box

I looked up the T.W mark recently, and found that it was made by Theodor Hartmann. One of the "F"'s means it was imported from Germany. Not too sure what the other symbols mean. Measures 1.5 x 1.0 inches. Around in the late 19th to early 20th century.
Have a collection of these kind of things. Some are obviously pill containers. Is that what this is? When I got this piece it was black. I can't seem to get much more of the tarnish off. Any technique to getting it off? All comments welcomed.

 

it's sweet....with Hallmarks & makers marks enough to make the most curious Antiquer happy !!!
Oh, the tarnish will come off with what's called....elbow grease !!

 

The remaining dark areas do not look like tarnish to me either, so thinking maybe the piece was patinated originally & meant to look silver on black. The plethora of marks sets off Hanau silver bells in my head.

 

Style also suggests Hanau.

 

Definitely Hanau. Actual maker most like Karl Kurz. The TH is for the British firm that sponsored it for assay in England.

See Kurz mark examples on this page. http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau_marks_01.html

 

Hanau marks.

http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau_marks_01.html

Karl Kurz
Kesselstadt

 

Theodor Hartman - agent importer for the firm of K. Kurz, Hanau.

http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/London-TD-TH.html#TH

I rest my case!

 

High five, everyone.

 

And one more thing - the little lower case f is the assay mark for 1901 in London.

 

Now there goes a gang of Happy Antiquers !!!!

Good on y'all...!!

 

Thank you for the comments everyone. Bakersgma gets the gold star for that quick Id. So is it sterling? I never know with british marks.
Does anyone swear by any particular silver cleaner?

 

Think the lion means it passed as sterling at the London assay office.

 

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/its-good-to-run-out-of-silver-polish.24043/unread

 

Adorable little box!! I daresay with enough effort you could make it shine, though.

 

any good silver foam not sure what is available over your way goddards, heggarty's are 2 i know and use, my wife prefers an american product call "NEVR DULL"' try local autochief type stores....if silver is stored in a cabinet throw in a block of camphor ./..mothballs prevents tarnish for long time /.......regards pewter2

 

Please forgive the repetitious post:

Seldom bother anymore with explaining the difference between patina and tarnish on silver, because it seems to have become popular to leave it 'untouched', but eventually tarnish will damage silver, and really, silver items were designed, created and sold to show the lovely glow of the white metal.

Would not recommend Nevr-Dull, nor Tarn-X or the 'aluminum pan/washing soda' method - the first link below is to silversmith/restorer/conservator Jeff Herman's page on silver care, the second link to warnings and ratings of silver care products. (And personally, moth balls literally make me ill their toxicity is an issue.)

http://www.hermansilver.com/care.htm

http://www.hermansilver.com/silver-polish-abrasion-ratings.htm

~Cheryl