Maker's Mark on this Dutch silver chatelaine purse frame?

[carpol]

I've done my best to figure out the marks on this purse frame--Minerva's head duty mark, lion passant over a 2 for .833 silver, and the "I" date mark looks like it's for 1843? Please correct me if I'm wrong!

I haven't been able to learn anything about the maker "MS". I went to the dutch-language silver site linked to from this site, but the only "MS" that came up was active in the early 1800s (plus the letters were raised, rather than impressed as with the mark here).

Two final questions: Since there doesn't appear to be an export key in the lion mark, would this have been for the domestic market? And what do the numerals in the maker's mark (looks like "41") mean?

Thanks so much--your help is greatly appreciated!

[oel]

Hi Carpol welcome to the forum,

You have done your homework, very well. MS 41. with * is the maker’s mark of; Meine Stuart located in the city of Zwartsluis province of Overijssel. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwartsluis
Meine Stuart registered 1820/1851 with various marks.
http://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom ... /I2556.php
Date letter I for 1843. Minerva head or assay office mark with the letter G in its helmet for the regional assay office of Zwolle. Domestic use.
For more info see:
http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=32028
The owner dot worked its initials
Best Oel,

[carpol]

Many thanks for this wonderful info! Wow!

This site is such a treasure... without it, I would have had no idea of where the purse was made, or even that it was silver vs plate.

Thanks again, and have a great weekend!