I believe this fork was made in Malta. I'm interested in the hallmarks: what time period, who made it, etc.
Thanks in advance.
Maltese fork
Maltese fork
Hello!
I believe this fork was made in Malta. I'm interested in the hallmarks: what time period, who made it, etc.
Thanks in advance.
I believe this fork was made in Malta. I'm interested in the hallmarks: what time period, who made it, etc.
Thanks in advance.
Re: Maltese fork
Not much to come with but the maker EC is most likely Emidio Critien around 1818 (?).
Re: Maltese fork
Hi Qrt.S!
Thank you so much for your answer! But what do the GT, "5" and rightmost (bird?) stamps mean?
Regards.
Thank you so much for your answer! But what do the GT, "5" and rightmost (bird?) stamps mean?
Regards.
Re: Maltese fork
Unfortunately Maltese silver marks are not my "area". The number he 5 could be a year mark but the rest???. Let's hope somebody else can provide more details, sorry. Try internet with "Emidio Critien".
Re: Maltese fork
As Qrt.S says, the number 5 is the date number and precisely 1856+5= 1859
from the book by Victor Denaro
With the enactment of Ordinance II of 1856 new regulations came into force. These provided that there be only one standard of gold at 18 carats marked with the impression of a royal crown, and that there be two standards of silver, namely, that of 11 | deniers which was to be stamped with the impression of the escutcheon of Malta, and that of 11 deniers which was to be stamped with the impression of the Maltese cross. An innovation was that the item was to bear a date stamp, which, as mentioned earlier, was to be indicated simply by the numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., commencing from the year 1857.
Regarding the G.T. mark and the last one on the right, I can't provide any information, but by eye, it seems they were struck after Emidio Critien's one. Is this perhaps a re-stamping?
Could it be Giuseppe Tortell's mark?
They might be traces worth investigating.
from the book by Victor Denaro
With the enactment of Ordinance II of 1856 new regulations came into force. These provided that there be only one standard of gold at 18 carats marked with the impression of a royal crown, and that there be two standards of silver, namely, that of 11 | deniers which was to be stamped with the impression of the escutcheon of Malta, and that of 11 deniers which was to be stamped with the impression of the Maltese cross. An innovation was that the item was to bear a date stamp, which, as mentioned earlier, was to be indicated simply by the numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., commencing from the year 1857.
Regarding the G.T. mark and the last one on the right, I can't provide any information, but by eye, it seems they were struck after Emidio Critien's one. Is this perhaps a re-stamping?
Could it be Giuseppe Tortell's mark?
They might be traces worth investigating.
Re: Maltese fork
Of course 1856+5=1861
Re: Maltese fork
Hi amena!
Many thanks for your reply!
Is it possible that Emidio Critien is the manufacturer and Giuseppe Tortell the seller? Or vice versa.
By the way, a mark similar to the last one on the right was shown in the topic viewtopic.php?f=8&t=53492
In that topic it is clearer and looks like a bird.
Regards.
Many thanks for your reply!
Is it possible that Emidio Critien is the manufacturer and Giuseppe Tortell the seller? Or vice versa.
By the way, a mark similar to the last one on the right was shown in the topic viewtopic.php?f=8&t=53492
In that topic it is clearer and looks like a bird.
Regards.
Re: Maltese fork
It looks just like Geraldo Pace's stamp
Re: Maltese fork
Dear Amena,
I mentioned that Maltese silver is not familiar to me. I'm out like the mailbox but this interesting. Mind my asking but in your opinion who actually made this fork EC, GT or GP and why so many maker's marks ???
I mentioned that Maltese silver is not familiar to me. I'm out like the mailbox but this interesting. Mind my asking but in your opinion who actually made this fork EC, GT or GP and why so many maker's marks ???
Re: Maltese fork
Hi Qtr.S
Unfortunately, I don't know the answer. I don't know much about Maltese silver either.
The hallmarking is clearly anomalous. There are too many marks.
In addition to the fineness mark and the date mark, there are three others.
One could be attributed to the assayer and another to the silversmith, but what about the third?
My impression is that Emilio Critien's mark has nothing to do with the other four, but I see no reason to repunching a fork.
Someone who knows the subject is needed.
Alaine Apap Bologna, perhaps?
Someone contacted her a while ago and got detailed answers.
I've already bothered her too many times.
Unfortunately, I don't know the answer. I don't know much about Maltese silver either.
The hallmarking is clearly anomalous. There are too many marks.
In addition to the fineness mark and the date mark, there are three others.
One could be attributed to the assayer and another to the silversmith, but what about the third?
My impression is that Emilio Critien's mark has nothing to do with the other four, but I see no reason to repunching a fork.
Someone who knows the subject is needed.
Alaine Apap Bologna, perhaps?
Someone contacted her a while ago and got detailed answers.
I've already bothered her too many times.
Re: Maltese fork
Hi again,
OK, no problem, just asking (wondering), thank you.
BUT! I usually see a ]red flag or at-least a pink one (:-))) when too many marks are punched, but....? thanks anyway.
OK, no problem, just asking (wondering), thank you.
BUT! I usually see a ]red flag or at-least a pink one (:-))) when too many marks are punched, but....? thanks anyway.
Re: Maltese fork
Hi amena!
In the topic viewtopic.php?f=8&t=53492 the bird mark was branded with Paolo Pace mark.
Regards.
Re: Maltese fork
As I said above, I'm not a great expert on Maltese silver. I simply included an image from Victor Denaro's book that seemed relevant to the topic, and as I said, it could be a lead for further investigation.
Furthermore, I don't know if Geraldo and Paolo Pace were brothers or relatives, or if they worked in the same shop. Nor do I know if the Geraldo Pace on page 188 of the same book is the same Geraldo as on page 191, a relative, or simply a namesake.
What is certain is that the bird symbol has been recurrent on the marks of silversmiths with the surname Pace since Giuseppe Pace (1806).
It's a rather tangled mess, and it would take someone more expert than me to unravel it.
Regards
Amena
Furthermore, I don't know if Geraldo and Paolo Pace were brothers or relatives, or if they worked in the same shop. Nor do I know if the Geraldo Pace on page 188 of the same book is the same Geraldo as on page 191, a relative, or simply a namesake.
What is certain is that the bird symbol has been recurrent on the marks of silversmiths with the surname Pace since Giuseppe Pace (1806).
It's a rather tangled mess, and it would take someone more expert than me to unravel it.
Regards
Amena
Re: Maltese fork
Hi amena!
Thank you very much for interesting and useful information!
Regards.
Thank you very much for interesting and useful information!
Regards.
Re: Maltese fork
Hi all!
A few days ago I wrote a letter to Alaine Apap Bologna and asked her the question under discussion. Here's her response:
"Good morning Alex,
Thank you for your message. My apologies for this belated response.
As I stopped my research after 1820, I cannot provide much information for these marks, except:
From left: maker’s mark E.C for Emidio Critien, entered 1818, a successful Maltese silversmith and retailer, mainly specialising in silverware in the British taste.
maker’s mark G.T in circle: Giovanni Tortell recorded in 1857 but probably entered previously.
Assay mark a Maltese Cross in circle accompanied by the date-letter 5. Used since 1857, so 1861.
Small oval assayer’s mark.
I’m not sure why the fork is stamped with both Critien’s and Tortell’s mark but suggest that the latter retailed it-the former might have been elected to a high position, ot vice versa...
I hope this helps,
Alaine."
As you can see, her answer largely coincides with the conclusions reached during the forum discussion.
However, I believe the fork is most likely made by Tortell as the mark GT is closer to the assay mark, and Critien is the seller.
Regards.
A few days ago I wrote a letter to Alaine Apap Bologna and asked her the question under discussion. Here's her response:
"Good morning Alex,
Thank you for your message. My apologies for this belated response.
As I stopped my research after 1820, I cannot provide much information for these marks, except:
From left: maker’s mark E.C for Emidio Critien, entered 1818, a successful Maltese silversmith and retailer, mainly specialising in silverware in the British taste.
maker’s mark G.T in circle: Giovanni Tortell recorded in 1857 but probably entered previously.
Assay mark a Maltese Cross in circle accompanied by the date-letter 5. Used since 1857, so 1861.
Small oval assayer’s mark.
I’m not sure why the fork is stamped with both Critien’s and Tortell’s mark but suggest that the latter retailed it-the former might have been elected to a high position, ot vice versa...
I hope this helps,
Alaine."
As you can see, her answer largely coincides with the conclusions reached during the forum discussion.
However, I believe the fork is most likely made by Tortell as the mark GT is closer to the assay mark, and Critien is the seller.
Regards.