posted 03-11-2006 05:41 PM            

As promised, here's a piece that appears to be marked with a 1000 -- although it's very hard to make out, and could well be something else. The other mark is N B, in individual shields.

It's a vase, of unusual form, measuring just over 7 inches high (18.2 cm), and 9.4 cm across the top (about 3-3/4 inches). The top is castellated, and there are three swooping buttress-like pieces that connect to the feet.

The design is rather futuristic, but the surface treatment is ... different. It combines a high polish in some areas with that stippled surface one sees most often on Russian silver. Then there is lots of hand-engraving, forming a motif that's sort of like abstracted leaves.

All in all, it's really a rather odd piece, but I've come to be quite fond of it. I thought at first it might be Italian because of the overall design, but the marks don't seem right for that, nor does the surface treatment. Then I thought maybe Japanese. It's probably something obvious that I'm overlooking, and I hope someone can tell me. It's assembled from at least 24 component pieces -- possibly more -- plus all that hand work in the finishing; someone put an amazing amount of effort into it, and they deserve to be recognized.

posted 03-11-2006 07:50 PM            

I like the original design, any thing well made that does not come out of the standard patterns is always fresh, even if not to ones personal taste.

posted 03-11-2006 09:57 PM            

Somewhere in the back of this muddled mine of mine I recall this "style" of vase having a specific name, that too may help tracking it. If it comes to me I'll let you know, but I'll bet a Mardi Gras coin (kidding) one of our members will come up with it.

Bon Nuit!
Jersey

posted 03-12-2006 02:29 PM            

It's just conceivable that the mark is 800M, inverted relative to the N B. Incident light doesn't really help, I'm afraid, and I've tried a variety of gentle polishing, darkening, etc. trying to make it more evident, with little success.

posted 03-13-2006 02:42 PM            

Also, my imagination sees a lamp font going into the top. Not a wired lamp, but a spirit or kerosene font. The shape looks very much like a banquet lamp, small version.

This is a totally great piece.

There were, and probably still are, lamp shops that assemble lamps to order. I have been in such places. They work with the decorator and come up with a sort of idea. Then they take pieces and parts, solder them together and make the lamp. Which produces a field with very many unique items.

These shops are also set up for brass, copper, bronze, chrome, gold and silver plating the finished item. Silverplated lamps are not very common, but do exist.

posted 03-14-2006 07:01 AM            

What is "800M"? Many European makers use this abbreviation for 800/1000; the M standing for "Mille" in French or a reference to the Latin number. Sometimes you will see "800/Mill" (with one or to ll's). What does it mean? Well, for starters this mark wasn't used in France, but was sometimes used in French speaking countries, silversmiths exporting to France, in Italy (for export) and Eastern Europe. The curious thing is that the makers mark on this interesting piece are "English" in style, so we have a bit of a puzzle on our hands. Does anyone agrees it resembles those drinking beakers in glass without a foot?

I am thinking that it could be an American maker of European origin, made somewhere in the 1930's?