Greetings!
My grandmother recently passed and I received this set of silverware from her belongings. Her family lineage was quite aristocratic in Romania in the 1800's, this set can be made anytime from 1800-1920, as I'm not sure if it is from my great grandparents or great, great grandparents. I have shown these to some family who read Russian, and they have confirmed the markings are not in Russian or tied with the USSR. This leads be to believe they are most likely from Romania, but of course, I could be wrong.
This is a 74 piece matching set, from the 5 pieces of flatware shown. I took this to a gold & silverware buyer/seller, and they were not passing the acid test for a high % silver, but their X-ray scanner was identifying all of them as pure AG/Silver. They have a realistic silver weight to them, still not 100% sure if they are plated or not.
Here are images of the 5 pieces with their patterns, any help identifying the pattern would also be helpful. Note the emblem at the top of each handle, resembling a "C".
Set:
Spoons Detail 1:
Hi-Res Image: https://image.ibb.co/mN5VvJ/Photo_Jun_14_12_57_00.jpg
Spoons Detail 2:
Hi-Res Image: https://image.ibb.co/fbKjNy/Photo_Jun_14_12_57_07.jpg
Forks Detail 1:
Hi-Res Image: https://image.ibb.co/bXuvUd/Photo_Jun_14_12_57_24.jpg
Forks Detail 2:
Hi-Res Image: https://image.ibb.co/hU97aJ/Photo_Jun_14_12_57_34.jpg
Knife Detail:
Hi-Res Image: https://preview.ibb.co/diVDZd/Photo_Jun_14_12_57_45.jpg
The following are the markings on the undersides of the handle. They all feature what resemble a "3iII" type of mark, followed by a set of four letters from a language which I cannot read, and all end with variations in numbers with the structure of "1-15" or "0-76." Any leads on what these numbers mean would be fantastic. The photos are listed below with each marking identified with the piece itself:
Knife Mark 1: On the blade reads "HEP" followed by a mark of some kind. My camera was unable to focus on the mark.
Hi-Res: https://image.ibb.co/bLRTZd/Photo_Jun_14_12_59_09.jpg
Knife Mark 2: Just the first "3iII" mark with no letters after like the other pieces:
Small Fork Mark "1-30":
Hi-Res: https://image.ibb.co/bAUFEd/Photo_Jun_14_13_00_29.jpg
Large Fork Mark "1-37" :
Hi-Res: https://image.ibb.co/nH00fJ/Photo_Jun_14_13_01_12.jpg
Large Spoon Mark "1-15":
Hi-Res: https://image.ibb.co/ehehud/Photo_Jun_14_13_01_44.jpg
Medium Spoon Mark "1-00":
Hi-Res: https://image.ibb.co/mJfoZd/Photo_Jun_14_13_02_34.jpg
Small Spoon Mark "0-76":
Hi-Res: https://image.ibb.co/cxhP7y/Photo_Jun_14_13_03_11.jpg
Thank you in advance for any help!
Vintage Eastern European (Romanian?) 74 Piece Flatware Set - Help Identifying Mark!
Re: Vintage Eastern European (Romanian?) 74 Piece Flatware Set - Help Identifying Mark!
Hi,
Welcome to the Forum.
I fear I'm going to disappoint you.
These are Soviet pieces, made at the Shevchenko factory in the Ukraine. MHU refers to the alloy that they are made of, copper, nickel, and zinc.
The 1-30 indicates the set price of 1 Ruble - 30 Kopecks for the item.
Trev.
Welcome to the Forum.
I fear I'm going to disappoint you.
These are Soviet pieces, made at the Shevchenko factory in the Ukraine. MHU refers to the alloy that they are made of, copper, nickel, and zinc.
The 1-30 indicates the set price of 1 Ruble - 30 Kopecks for the item.
Trev.
Re: Vintage Eastern European (Romanian?) 74 Piece Flatware Set - Help Identifying Mark!
Hi,
The cutlery is Soviet (USSR).
ЗиШ "Завод имени Шевченко" "Shevchenko Factory", ie, the name of the manufacturer. It is located in Volnyansk, Zaporizhzhya region.
МНЦ - это сплав меди с никелем и цинком
(It is an alloy of copper with nickel and zinc)
Or nickel silver.
The second letter Ц denotes "price" in rebels and kopeks
Blades are marked НЕРЖ``stainless steel`` нержавеющая сталь
Very common flatware and not valuable at all.
Regards
The cutlery is Soviet (USSR).
ЗиШ "Завод имени Шевченко" "Shevchenko Factory", ie, the name of the manufacturer. It is located in Volnyansk, Zaporizhzhya region.
МНЦ - это сплав меди с никелем и цинком
(It is an alloy of copper with nickel and zinc)
Or nickel silver.
The second letter Ц denotes "price" in rebels and kopeks
Blades are marked НЕРЖ``stainless steel`` нержавеющая сталь
Very common flatware and not valuable at all.
Regards