Pics now working - Help to identifying marks on silver ship

michael · Post by **michael** » Sun May 29, 2005 11:42 am

Hi all, can anyone help me identify the origin of these marks, what they mean and maybe some information about this piece so that I can do some more research on it. I have tried researching the net but haven't had any luck so any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

hallmarks - close up

hallmarks - distant

Silver Ship

Post by **admin** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 5:42 pm

Hi Michael,

Your rolling ship model is called a nef, and it is a made in the city of Hanau in Germany, in the latter 19th or 20th century. Hanau was an open city, as far as hallmarking was concerned and beginning in the 19th century, silvermiths used some very fanciful and confusing markings. The first (with chevron) is a variation on the Hanau city mark.

Regards, Tom