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tline3open  Marks unknown on flat spoon

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Author Topic:   Marks unknown on flat spoon
sharrnel

Posts: 1
Registered: Jan 2003

iconnumber posted 01-16-2003 09:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sharrnel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't even know if this is a flat spoon. It was my mother-in-laws. I have tried to surf the net to try to find out what the marks would be. I came across this place and thought I'd give it a try.

I have to polish it all the time. When I say this, I just mean that it has to be polished, no more than normal. (but thanks for the replys anyway, good things to know)

There are 2 fish carved in the spoon end with grasses and sand. The handle has a carving of a dragon in water so only half of him shows. Then there is a banner below him that says: VINCIT QUI PAT. ITUR. There are stamps on the back of the handle. The first stamp is an O, the 2nd looks like an upside down tree, the 3rd stamp is JQ, the 4th stamp is AI (or could even be A1), and the 5th stamp is EP but is turned sideways to the others. At the beginning of the stamps is the letter R. The length is 8-1/2". The flat spoon end of it is 3-1/2" X 1-1/4". It weighs almost 2 oz.

I have no idea how old it is. So if anyone has any ideas what this is, I would sure appreciate any information.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

[This message has been edited by Mod assistant (edited 03-04-2024).]

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11573
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 01-16-2003 10:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Send the pictures to me at info@smpub.com & I'll post them for you.

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WGS

Posts: 136
Registered: Oct 99

iconnumber posted 01-17-2003 09:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for WGS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
"Vincit qui patitur" meaning "He who is patient wins." is the family motto on the heraldic device for Acworth, Addenbrooke, Harrison and maybe more.

"A1" refers to silverplate as does "EP" which stands for the electroplate process.

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11573
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 01-17-2003 09:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Since this piece is silverplate, we are moving this post to the Silverplate forum
Here are the images:

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Scott Martin
Forum Master

Posts: 11573
Registered: Apr 93

iconnumber posted 01-17-2003 04:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott Martin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
I have to polish it all the time.

It is silverplate. Polish once! Then, very often,just wash with soap & water whether you have used the item or not.

Polishing removes the silverplating and will expose the base metal.

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Stephen

Posts: 625
Registered: Jan 2003

iconnumber posted 01-17-2003 07:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Stephen     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is a classic "Fiddle" pattern. I'd say the marks are English.

It looks to me like a Victorian era fish slice. These slices normally had a pointed tip. Perhaps the tip was damaged and someone put a grinding wheel to it?

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DaleN
unregistered
iconnumber posted 01-23-2003 10:59 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you are having to polish all the time, check for a gas leak. I had this problem once, it came on all of a sudden. Finally discovered a slight opening between vent and flue on my hot water heater was putting out toxic gases. The silver was the first visible reaction. Frequently silver is your warning something is wrong with your environment.

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Anuh

Posts: 190
Registered: Jan 2003

iconnumber posted 01-25-2003 10:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Anuh     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DaleN:
If you are having to polish all the time, check for a gas leak. I had this problem once, it came on all of a sudden. Finally discovered a slight opening between vent and flue on my hot water heater was putting out toxic gases. The silver was the first visible reaction. Frequently silver is your warning something is wrong with your environment.

This is excellent information and I'm glad to see someone posting it. Silver is very sensitive to a number of things. It should never be wrapped in newsprint or dyed paper for storage (silver emulsions are used for photographing and the silver WILL Pick up the dye and ink impressions permanently). It should also never be bundled together using rubber bands, as the rubber will actually eat away at the silver, sterling or plate. This can happen even when the pieces are first stored in a plastic bag. The rubber bands will eat away the plastic first and then leave indentations and dark marks on the silver pieces, again permanently. And tape should never be used on silverplate for labels or tags as it CAN and sometimes WILL actually remove the plating from the base metal.

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Anuh

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Anuh

Posts: 190
Registered: Jan 2003

iconnumber posted 01-25-2003 11:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Anuh     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen:
This is a classic "Fiddle" pattern. I'd say the marks are English.

It looks to me like a Victorian era fish slice. These slices normally had a pointed tip. Perhaps the tip was damaged and someone put a grinding wheel to it?


The pattern is not Fiddle, which has two "bulges" to give it the shape that a fiddle would have. This is Plain. Nor are the marks English. This is an American Victorian piece, using psuedo-hallmarks as markings in order to pretend to be "better than it is".

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Anuh

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Stephen

Posts: 625
Registered: Jan 2003

iconnumber posted 01-27-2003 04:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Stephen     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Anuh, thanks for your input. It seems to me that the pattern name depends on the frame of reference. Mine was English, yours is American. There is a difference. The English would call this a Fiddle, plain Fiddle, or basic Fiddle pattern.

I'm curious as to how you decided that these are "American psuedo-hallmarks". Did you find the mark documented somewhere?

[This message has been edited by Mod assistant (edited 03-04-2024).]

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Anuh

Posts: 190
Registered: Jan 2003

iconnumber posted 01-29-2003 08:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Anuh     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Stephen:
Anuh, thanks for your input. It seems to me that the pattern name depends on the frame of reference. Mine was English, yours is American. There is a difference. The English would call this a Fiddle, plain Fiddle, or basic Fiddle pattern.

I'm curious as to how you decided that these are "American psuedo-hallmarks". Did you find the mark documented somewhere?


You are right, Stephen. There is a difference, and I guess I always assume an American origin. It needed to be pointed out. If this is English, then you are also right on the hallmarks.

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Anuh

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Stephen

Posts: 625
Registered: Jan 2003

iconnumber posted 01-29-2003 10:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Stephen     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The main thing that intrigues me about this piece (other than being unable to find any documentation on the mark) is the shoulders. (The shoulders are the little blips on the stem.) They don't seem to match those on the American "Plain" pattern pieces I've seen.

Does anyone know which American manufacturers (other than the Rogers) produced blanks for plating in this pattern?

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