Unknown marks on bracelet, possibly middle eastern

belle · Post by **belle** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:37 pm

I have searched your site and a few others. I have posted this on the eBay jewelry board with no success at anyone recognizing the marks. It was suggested that the bracelet might be middle eastern in origin due to the type of hinge with a inserted pin closure. It is very heavy and tests sterling or higher.

The marks are very tiny, about 1mm each. This is as big as I can blow them up. The two marks pictured together are on one place on the bracelet. The other mark in a fan-shaped depression is by itself on the other side of the bracelet. If these are not clear enough, I can try again. I am not used to posting without html, though.

Post by **admin** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:23 pm

The style looks North African and the lozenge form maker's mark hints at any of France's former colonies there. I really can't make head or tail of the rectangular marks, but the cartouche shape looks much like that which surrounds an image of a vulture on a Moroccan import mark used post-1925.

Regards, Tom

belle · Post by **belle** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:27 pm

Oh, thank you, thank you. Moroccan, then. Is there somewhere I can look up marks from Morocco or North Africa - Tunisia, etc.?

I'm sorry the pictures are not any better. Should I try again on those? Do you think you'd know more if I could get better pictures?

Post by **2209patrick** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:00 pm

Here's a picture and drawing of the Morocco import mark that Tom was refering to.

Pat.

belle · Post by **belle** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:10 pm

Thank you for your picture and drawing. It is hard to tell whether that is the same. Mine looks like a perched bird, maybe vulture, but he looks fatter and there is no number anywhere.

Is there any significance to the stamps being on the outside of the bracelet? Is there any way to determine age?

Any idea about the other marks? The one in the fan shape looks like a recumbent lion, perhaps and the other one looks like two figures, but what they are is hard to tell.

Is there any way to bring the marks up sharper? I did these with my scanner on 9600, but should I try to polish down in the marks or put black in them or something. This is the first time I haven't been able to read marks pretty well and it is frustrating.

Post by **2209patrick** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:41 pm

My experience has been mostly with American and British silver. Sorry to say I can't answer your questions.

I have heard of a way to get a better picture of a mark, but I have not tried it yet.
Take a lit candle and hold it below the mark. Just close enough for the area including the mark to become dark. After it cools, take a piece of clear tape and put it over the mark. Then pull of the tape and transfer it to a piece of paper. Then scan the image.

On another board I visit they say this technique works well. Like I said, I have not used it, so I'm not sure it works.

Pat.

belle · Post by **belle** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:58 pm

That's an idea. I'll have to try that, but am not sure it will work with these marks since they are really embedded down in the silver.

Doos · Post by **Doos** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:29 am

Hi,

You will need a "blackening candle" for that, the same type they use in etching. Mostly they are available in shops that sell art tools.
http://www.petervanginkel.nl/foto.php?type=boom&id=1557" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; shows what they look like (a long strand of one small candle).