posted 10-17-2008 07:49 AM            

Another Puzzle...

Here is an unmarked coin silver sauce ladle that I purchased along with other coin and sterling pieces from an estate in Florida in 2001.

There is no drop on the back, and it has the style, color, and feel, of American coin made between 1810 and 1850. It scratch tests silver, the same color as my 1830's coin test spoon, so it is around 90% silver

The only reason I am presenting this ladle to you, is the that the "cut" portion of the fiddle handle may identify where, regionally, it was made.

Thanks for your help as always.

Marc

posted 10-17-2008 12:01 PM            

Just to add to the confusion, here is another Rogers puzzle. The marks "W.P.Rogers" and "W.P.R." appear on a downturned fiddle-handled coin silver tablespoon and a small sauce ladle, which also carries a couple of unique pseudohallmarks. The spoon are lightweight and the handles are of an unusual notched configuration, somewhat reminiscent of Scottish Hanoverian and later Midwestern fiddle handles, so I suspect they are of Midwestern or mid-southern origin, but I have not yet traced the maker. The arrow suggests to me an American indian symbol -- if this is so, and it is associated with a particular tribe, there might be a geographical association which might help locate the maker.