Strange Mark - Skinny Bird With Two Dots Over - Art Nouveau

[mrs_flyingsultan]

This pendant has me baffled. I thought at first Scandinavian but cannot find the mark any where.

There are no other marks.

The piece tests as silver. The mark appears on the bale as well as on the back.

Opinions gratefully received. Many thanks.

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[silverport]

Hello

Shown mark's signification is .800 fineness mark, from Alexandria in Egypt.

Kind regards silverport

[mrs_flyingsultan]

To the moderator who moved this to the correct place, thank you and I am sincerely sorry for selecting the wrong location originally. I consider myself slapped and will definitely NOT do it again.

To the gentleman in Portugal who discovered this is an Egyptian mark
how very clever - and a huge 'shookran' if you are Arabic or 'obrigado' if you are Portugese.

I am truly impressed and extremely appreciative of both efforts on my behalf.

Sincerest thanks,


Mrs Sultana

[mrs_flyingsultan]

Silverport - You are magic ! Is there any way of determining approx which year this pendant would have been made?

Could the creature be a stylized oryx perhaps?

The style reminds me strongly of Art Nouveau but wondering now whether that design movement reached so far as Egypt? Or perhaps they had their own equivalent - as in other countries?

I will go back to researching and again am hugely grateful and impressed by the helpfulness and generosity of this forum - both the administrators and the members.

My thanks again.

Mrs S

[silverport]

Hello

In my brain it was ringing, when I saw the mark. Long time ago I had got some little knowledge in non European silver marks. So my brain was registering, that this mark with ^- is Egypt fineness mark for .800 fineness (my notice says me: By law of 8 August 1906, from 1 September 1916 on until 1946. Then 1946 there were some changes; which ones I don’t remember, because it’s out of my collections time range.

The “flying bird”, in the upper part of this mark, signification is: Town’s name of hallmarking — I remember in my notices, that yours is Alexandria. But it could be also Cairo? I haven’t “google” until yet.

Your pendant is a little item. There isn’t sufficient space for whole range of marks; which were struck normally in full range of three, of different signification — as I remember. Maker’s mark was always — if (!) they were struck — being struck as an additional mark.

Visually oriented, I classify the item not implicit to »Art Nouveau« itself — because the pendant is made out of that time range. My impression is that the style could be more inspired by a fraction of style from »Art déco« period.

But if you study decorative painted pattern of Near East ceramic, you would maybe saying: »I’ve seen the same motive in the mirror of a ceramic bowl, classified XVI A.D. century in an Ethnographic Museum«.

Well it’s an impressive fine work, and well done — yes, an attentive Oryx in a place of shelter.

Remark in relation to »Art Nouveau« phenomena: Worldwide — with some time lap in between — were »Art Nouveau« en vogue in Paris, Moscow, New York, Rio de Janeiro ... But also »Art déco«. It isn’t social critic if I state, that it was and still is always “the same as every year” = the “Upper class” is forerunner for style, for “must have”, “must be seen” ... So on this way we have got »Louis XIV« style, »Queen Ann« ...

Your pendant could be made in Time of WWI (World War I) until at least WWII — or maybe just recently? Maybe presented from a young Egypt to his just married woman. Present to her by sunset on the Nil, on her honeymoon.

Some phantasm is permitted, if things couldn’t tell themselves — but it’s dangerous for clients if it is merchant’s story.

Be happy with your very nice and impressive art work! Imagine behind this art work the artist who had the idea for this design and his application.

I know personally it’s feeling, to be happy with an applied art work. Knowing social circumstances of style, the design, production, publishing, sales and last but not least it’s daily use under limelight of own eyes.

Have a good 2010!

Kind regards silverport

[silverport]

Hello

Just I've found in my notices a hand drawing of mine, with additional notices of mark in question: It's Cairo mark for 800 fineness.

Kind regards silverport

[admin]

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