Picture Frame - Do the Argentines use standardized hallmarks?

First ... There are a LOT of photos .... so, I am apologizing for all the photos - sorry

Not sure if it was here on this site or on eBay that I learned about the word Plata meaning silver in Spanish. I knew (OK .... I hoped) that that little nugget would come in useful someday ... that day was yesterday.

Here's the frame (10½" X 13") that I picked up yesterday. There are stickers on the back that pretty clearly state that it was hand made of 925 silver (I'm not typing out the name of the silversmith because of the overly nosy "bots" that sniff around these threads) I have been unsuccessful at finding any standardized hallmarking system that is/was used in Argentina (even on 925-1000 site)... but the side of the frame has some "things" stamped on it (totally illegible before polishing - not much better after)

Does anyone have any info about Argentine silver? Hey ... the word for silver in Latin is argentum ... coincidence?

By the way ... plata does NOT mean silver in Italian ... I found this out the hard way ...
not fully polished yet ...

close up of corner detail


stamps on side


I think this one may be the last name of the artist (from the sticker) who made frame

 

According to Tardy's International Hallmarks on Silver... Argentina has at least purity markings since 1959. The 5th picture has a diamond (lozenge). That is probably the purity mark. He says the following:

"Fineness must be .925 for all articles liable to be in contact with food and .800 for other articles."

Here's an article in the The Telegraph with Juan Pallarols mentioned. You are in good company with a piece of his silver!! Specifically read the 3rd paragraph under his pic.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-on-A-friend-reveals-a-very-special-gift.html

and read about him in this NY Times article starting at the 4th paragraph down:
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/05/t...entina-s-glittering-trove.html?pagewanted=all

--- Susan

 

Susan, thank you for the info on the hallmarks, and for those great links! He certainly does beautiful work!

 

Here's his web site.

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Carlos_Pallarols

Debora

 

And here's a listing from an Argentine auction site for one of his frames -- for informational purchases only.

Debora