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Puzzling mark

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2018 11:29 am
by amena
Hi all
I have this ladle, for punch , I suppose, which has just one mark.
The shape of the mark might suggest a French silversmith, but the guarantee mark is missing, and this makes me think that it's not French .
I suppose it is Italian from that time when no official mark was compulsory.
I found a mark just similar but not identical on the books, and so I have a little doubt left.
Has anyone ever seen this mark?
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Thanks in advance

Re: Puzzling mark

Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2018 12:12 pm
by Aguest
I would first have thought Belgium during that long period of time where marks were not compulsory and some Belgian silversmiths used diamond-shaped cartouches as makers' marks (See "Belgian Silver, Art Deco Period" for an article which demonstrates one example of this) ::: However, if you found an almost identical Italian Maker's Mark, that would seem to be a better fit :: Is it a "G" and a "P" with a sword in-between? :::: Or perhaps the symbol is not a sword but another object? :::::

Re: Puzzling mark

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 7:54 am
by amena
Hi Aguest
Your hypothesis is very interesting, I had not thought about a Belgian silver.
The mark of the Italian silversmith who looks like, is belonging to Giovanni Piuma, about half of the 19th century and is described as "una piuma" "a feather".
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The shape of the ladle is not usual with the flared bowl and the handle that ends with a hook. Perhaps someone else has some further hypothesis.......

Re: Puzzling mark

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 8:54 am
by Goldstein
Hi amena -

this kind of punch ladles were used in different countries - here an example from Russia (Vodka of course!) and how it was used:

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Regards
Goldstein

Re: Puzzling mark

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 11:28 am
by amena
Hi Golstein
It could be what you suggest, but in this case it is more likely to be foreign.
Your picture, for some reason, has suggested me another possibility: is it a baptismal ladle?
Below are some examples of baptismal ladles from northern Italy compared to mine
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Best regrds
Amena