Austro-Hungarian Cup with Mystery "SS" Mark

[Ryaan2000]

I bought this silver cup at a local flea market a few months ago, knowing it was some sort of European silver I've never encountered before. It turns out it's Austro-Hungarian. The lower Diana's head hallmark is either the 1867-1872 one or the 1872-1922 one (it's hard to tell). It's hallmarked "SS" as well.

I've got 2 or 3 quick questions about it, which Diana's head does it seem to have and what maker does the SS go to? Also, what kind of cup is it? It's an inch or two wider and taller than a shot glass and has a fluted rim. I believe in Russia they have special glasses for cognac and I was thinking that it was something along that line (a glass for a special kind of alcohol I mean)

I included a close up of it's engraved design, which is a motif of cottages, if that helps at all in finding out anything about it.

[silverport]

Hello Ryaan 2000

You are always in »925-1000« welcome with your questions.

Your “Schnapps” or Spirit tumbler is assayed in Krákow, after 1872. Krákow was from history on a capital of Poland; but in that time, your beaker was produced, Poland was divided between Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia.

So for Krákow were Austro-Hungarian rules in force — hence this assay-office mark (3 Diana E; the letter in front of Diana’s profile indicates the town of assay-office). Please, look here: http://www.925-1000.com/Faustria_02.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Except for Vienna, actually don’t existing a guide for maker’s mark from the other Austria-Hungary assay-offices.

So, identity of maker remains actually unknown.

As background information: In these North East European area spirits were made from grain, or potato’s. It was usual to welcome with a »trunek« (German = Schnaps; Russian = Wodka) a man who came to visite.

Kind regards silverport

[Ryaan2000]

Hello Ryaan 2000

You are always in »925-1000« welcome with your questions.

Your “Schnapps” or Spirit tumbler is assayed in Krákow, after 1872. Krákow was from history on a capital of Poland; but in that time, your beaker was produced, Poland was divided between Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia.

So for Krákow were Austro-Hungarian rules in force — hence this assay-office mark (3 Diana E; the letter in front of Diana’s profile indicates the town of assay-office). Please, look here: http://www.925-1000.com/Faustria_02.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Except for Vienna, actually don’t existing a guide for maker’s mark from the other Austria-Hungary assay-offices.

So, identity of maker remains actually unknown.

As background information: In these North East European area spirits were made from grain, or potato’s. It was usual to welcome with a »trunek« (German = Schnaps; Russian = Wodka) a man who came to visite.

Kind regards silverport

Thank you for the information!

I could tell the 3 on the left of the Diana's head, but I was having trouble telling whether the letter on the right was an "E" or a "C". It's very strange, through a loupe it looks like a "C" but in my picture I can tell that it's an "E". O_o

Nonwithstanding, this is really an exquisite cup. The design is so simple and well engraved. I can imaging a small family of Austro-Hungarians (from Krakow perhaps) being proud to serve some spirits to a visitor with it!

[Hose_dk]

the dianahead contained a figure untill april 1st 1872.
from that day untill mai 1st 1922 it contained a figure + a city letter.

the dianahead before 1872 - had the silver contenth figure, town letter was a seperate mark.

[silverport]

Hello again

Yes, the engravings are well done; and in their very expressive simplicity, they are amazing me too.

The assay-office mark is in your photo an E, as you’ve confirmed. You’ve the origin — actually only you could find out, if it’s a C or an E.

C as assay-office indication stands for Prag, now capital of Czech Republic. Also there has happen an amazing artistic culture too. In their “front yard” were some little workshop of amazing professionality — and in their “backyard” the (world) wide well known silver ware factory of Frantisek Bibus, with her quality products also in style.

The body of the tumbler is maybe made in the conventual’s technique of be hand wrought — but it could be done also in a lathe processing technique. Please look on the outside of the bottom — if there in the centre is a marking, then the tumbler’s shape is made on a lathe.

Who has made these simple but very expressive engravings? It could be done in the same workshop — but could be made also in a specialised engravers workshop.

The maker’s mark for the presentation in the assay-office stands only for to be maker’s guarantee of the correct contents of silver in the materials alloy. This is proofed, and confirmed by the assay-office with their Diana mark. In this case it's an alloy of 800-1,000 silver fineness = indicated by the 5 circle (each "circles" indication stand for 160-1,000; 5 x 160 = 800) "clover leaf" respective numerical 3.

The Austro-Hungary assay-offices never made an evaluation of artistic expressions, or workshop quality.

So we must wait until by incidence we get more knowledge.

Kind regards silverport

P.S. In my former contribution I had written in Portuguese, but wrong accentuated; the correct towns name is Kraków.

[silverport]

Hello again

In my former contribution I’ve informed you that, if the assay-office letter is a C:

C as assay-office indication stands for Prag, now capital of Czech Republic. Also there has happen an amazing artistic culture too. In their “front yard” were some little workshop of amazing professionality — and in their “backyard” the (world) wide well known silver ware factory of Frantisek Bibus, with her quality products also in style.

Here I like to show you what an engravers workshop could buy from Frantisek Bibus & Son silverware factory; and add then after own engravings on it.



Producer: Frantisek Bibus & Son, Tumbler, Model 8364

Normally he get an already with maker’s mark signed object — that he must bring then after to an assay-office. But he could get also an unmarked item — which he has to mark with his own mark; and then after has to be assayed.

Kind regards silverport