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Strange Hallmarked Sterling Letter Opener With Dog Poodle And Green Skin Scabbard

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Silver1658 of 3126Two Lutz & Weiss Art Nouveau tea spoons Dog nose silver spoon
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    Posted 9 years ago

    stwillia76
    (137 items)

    Here is what I believe to be a letter opener. It has what I believe to be a poodle on the top. It is hallmarked but it is hard to see all the information. I can not make out the first one, the second one lion walking from left to right, and the third being what I believe to be scripted L with period. I can't figure out the hallmark. There is a green skin scabbard holder. I do not know if this is a part of the letter opener. Or i don't know if this is even a letter opener. It is very unusual and many mysteries. I do love a good challenge but I'm about at the end of my rope on this one. I'd love to hear back from so of you on this one.

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    Comments

    1. kyratango kyratango, 9 years ago
      Green skin is shark skin, shagreen aka in french galuchat.
      Used mainly 18th century as sheath or art deco boxes (which is not the case here).
      I think it is a knife, not a letter opener, 18th century :-)
    2. stwillia76 stwillia76, 9 years ago
      Well thanks. The knife's blade is thin. I have no clue as to what it could be used for. It may even be a steak knife for all I know. Can't really say that the scabbard belongs with this piece. I though the dog was strange. Wonder of it is French? Still I couldn't make out the hallmarks.
    3. stwillia76 stwillia76, 9 years ago
      Definitely a shark skin scabbard,
    4. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Those are Dutch silver marks.

      I flipped image 4 around 270 degrees and you can see the Dutch lion mark in hexagon : a mark from 1814 on.

      Underneath it is the Minerva head. Though well worn there will be a letter on the helmet ... each of the 17 letters used represented a different assay office.

      From the photo I cannot tell but you may be able to distinguish it n the right hand side.

      Underneath that is a letter inverted that should be an "I".
      It was used between 1906 and 1953,

      check out point J here:
      http://www.925-1000.com/Fnetherlands_Date_Code.html




    5. stwillia76 stwillia76, 9 years ago
      The knife and sheath are indeed a set. The shark skin sheath does have a silver top and bottom and is hallmarked with a hatchet or ax over a GR. The top hallmark on the knife can not be fully read but I can make out an R in the same place. The letter which is visible to me looks like a "Fancy L." Okay I believe it to be Dutch, and these two belong together. It is sharkskin. It is silver. Funny looking dog handle most likely a poodle. Does this "GR" with a ax mean the artist?
    6. stwillia76 stwillia76, 9 years ago
      Looks like an 1829 L
    7. stwillia76 stwillia76, 9 years ago
      1820

    8. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      yeaj I would say yes to the 1820 now I am looking more carefully. The two pieces together will give the information you need.
    9. stwillia76 stwillia76, 9 years ago
      Do you think the GR with an ax is the artist? These hallmark identifications are pretty iffy
      \
    10. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      "The four basic categories of marks in the Dutch hallmarking system are described below.
      This hallmarking system was instituted in 1814. If you are lucky enough to own a piece
      of Dutch silver dating to the 17th or 18th centuries, you will need to consult Tardy’s
      International Hallmarks on Silver as the information that follows will not apply to you.

      Usually the largest and easiest to spot of all the hallmarks is the standard (or purity)
      mark, which is in the shape of a lion. If your piece has the lion rampant (standing on its
      back legs with its front paws in the air) and the number one in the bottom right corner,
      the piece is done in 935 purity silver, a slightly higher purity than sterling silver. More
      commonly you will find a lion passant (in a walking pose with one front paw raised) and
      a number two at the bottom of the mark, indicating the lower 833 purity silver.

      Next you may find the maker’s mark, a series of two or three initials. There is a very
      helpful searchable database of maker’s marks here. The website is in Dutch, but it is
      pretty easy to interpret. Just type the initials of your mark into the bar that says “Letters”
      and click “Zoeken”. You will be able to see pictures of the marks, names and dates for
      the makers, and other useful information.

      The Minerva’s head duty mark shows a figure in side profile wearing a helmet. The
      letter imprinted on the helmet, if you can make it out, tells in what city the piece was
      assayed.

      The most difficult mark to locate is usually the date letter. Once you do find it your
      troubles have only begun. Now you must decipher a bizarre script in which many of
      the letters used look almost identical and it is difficult to tell whether the mark is right
      side up or not. Compare your mark with the chart of date letters here to determine the
      most likely choices. If you are trying to decide between multiple possibilities, consult
      any information you gleaned from the maker’s mark. For example, if you were able to
      identify the maker, and track down the dates when that maker was working, you may be
      able to narrow down your options.

      Mastering the Dutch hallmarking system may require extra work, but there are some
      beautiful treasures in the world of Dutch silver for those who put forth the effort.

      Your determination will not go unrewarded!"
      http://agoramarketplace.com/blog/how-to-decode-dutch-silver-hallmarks-looking-for-purity-makers-duty-and-date-marks/
    11. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      I think the site that is mentioned above is this one:

      http://www.zilver.nl/zilverkeuren
    12. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      there are some other Dutch silver sites here:
      http://www.silverresearch.org
    13. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      The form with the dog looks to be typically Dutch:
      http://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/1630601-silver-knife-in-shagreen-pouch-with-silver-clasps-amsterdam-city-hallmark-18th-century
    14. stwillia76 stwillia76, 9 years ago
      Thanks a lot. So it is an 1820 Dutch Silver Knife with a Shagreen pouch from 1820. Thanks a lot. A fine treasure.

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