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I am trying to date a silver tea strainer that I have had lying around the house for several years. It has a total of EIGHT stamp marks. One group consisting of 5 marks looks like what I have seen on the websites I have been searching for clues, and the other 3 stamps look like nothing I have seen in the many galleries I have browsed. Can you please correct my translation of the 5 stamp marks as given below and help me find the origins of the remaining 3 baffling stamp marks.
[img=http://www18.zippyshare.com/thumb/88725021/file.html][/img]
I have translated the 5 marks as follows, but please correct me if I am wrong…
MAKERS MARK = BM
In an oblong with rounded corners,
no dot in between the letters.
Berthold Muller (reg London 1897)
QUALITY MARK = Lion
Sterling Silver .925
CITY MARK = CHESTER
Shield containing 1 Sword amidst 3 Towers/Pillars
DATE MARK = Q
Chester Capital Q (Times New Roman font) dates are 1716, 1812, 1834, 1899
Letter F added to indicate FOREIGN import.
So I think we can safely say this tea strainer was imported by Berthold Muller & assailed in Chester approx 1897-99...
...but what about the other 3 stamp marks?
[img=http://www18.zippyshare.com/thumb/42237405/file.html][/img]
What is the circle stamp with the V and the 3 hearts (with flames/diamond)? / or are they 3 leaves ?
[img=http://www18.zippyshare.com/thumb/23765829/file.html][/img]
What do the 2 leaves mean?
[img=http://www18.zippyshare.com/thumb/72624787/file.html][/img]
What letter is in the shield stamp D, N or R ?
[img=http://www7.zippyshare.com/thumb/83473350/file.html][/img]
What city was this item imported from?
When was it actually made?
Who made it or pressed it?
Grateful for all assistance,
Stephen - London
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Help Identify These Stamp Marks Please?
Re: Help Identify These Stamp Marks Please?
Yes, you are correct that the strainer is imported by Berthold Muller and is assayed at Chester, date letter Q for 1899
The makers mark is for B. Neresheimer & Söhne (the other three marks you show), a Hanau silversmith.
http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau_marks_01.html
The makers mark is for B. Neresheimer & Söhne (the other three marks you show), a Hanau silversmith.
http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau_marks_01.html