posted 01-17-2002 03:20 PM            

My gut instinct tells me that your set is Polish. I think I have seen that WWS mark before on Polish silver, and I believe it is a maker's mark. The little round mark that you can't make out is the key to identifying your set further. If you can get a good magnifier, you might be able to make sense of it. If it is Polish, the round mark will likely include the head of a peasant woman in a babushka. A number to the right of the head will tell you the fineness of the silver. If I am right, your set is solid silver, though likely of a lower grade than sterling.

By the way, what kind of set is this?

posted 01-17-2002 05:34 PM            

It really helps with just a little something to go on. The mark is either a girls or womans head with the number 3 beside it. It is a flatware set with 6 of each of the following: dinner knives,dinner forks, place or table spoons, teaspoons and demitasse spoons. Can you tell me any more?

Thank you!
Tessa

[This message has been edited by Tessa (edited 01-17-2002).]

posted 01-17-2002 05:55 PM            

Yep, it's Polish. The 3 indicates that the silver is of the third standard, or 800/1000 fine. "Sterling" silver is 925/1000 fine, or 92.5% silver. Your pieces are 80% silver. The 800 standard was common in Europe, and the fact that it is only 80% silver and not 92.5% silver only really matters if you plan to melt it down or sell it by the pound. Regardless, it is solid silver, and certainly not plated.

Now, is the 3 on the left side of the woman's head or the right? Or is the mark shaped like an 8 with the 3 below the head? On the opposite side of the head, is there a W or an H? The answer will fhelp us to date the set.

posted 01-17-2002 06:05 PM            

The 3 is on the left and there is a W behind her head. Thanks for your help! You guys are the greatest!!!!

posted 01-17-2002 10:02 PM            

The mark you describe was first introduced around 1920, and was replaced with a new style in 1931. So, your set dates from 1920 to 1931. I hope this answers your questions. Enjoy your set!

posted 01-18-2002 12:17 PM            

Thank you for posting the mark. The actual mark on the pieces is only about the size of a straight pin head. Thank goodness I still have good eyesight! I know you guys aren't supposed to talk values, but I picked this set up for $20.00, was it worth it? There is a local antique store I plan to take it to and ask their opinon of the value. I don't plan to sell it, would just like to know. If the mark was an "h" instead of a "w" would it be newer or older? Just curious.....

posted 01-18-2002 12:47 PM            

Remember a dealer's guesstimate usually falls somewhere between what they would buy it from you for, what they would sell it to you for and what they think will make you happy.

A simple way to get an idea of the value of your silver is to watch eBay for the next year and see what several similar items sell for.

Or you could secure the services of a professional appraiser. To request information about an professional appraiser in your area, go to here. The following is from this link:

quote:

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Appraisals

Ask 10 people on the street what an appraisal is and how an appraisal is done and you will get 10 very different answers. The common thread heard is that an appraisal tells you "what it is worth" and is usually obtained by "asking/calling a dealer." In the simplest of terms this is generally correct. However, please don't contact us or any professional appraiser requesting a phone or email appraisal because if you need the appraisal for legal, tax, business, insurance, replacement, damage, loss, charitable gift, gift, estate, equitable distribution and/or other professional reasons a phone or an email appraisal will prove to be very inadequate.

A professional appraiser cannot appraise your silver without personally inspecting it. Please don't waste your time asking for an appraisal based solely on your description or photographs. When you deal with a trained professional appraiser, one who belongs to one of the personal property appraisal associations (AAA, ASA, ISA), you will receive a documented comparative analysis as a written appraisal. A professionally written appraisal comes at the conclusion of a series of very specific and uniform steps which include: personal inspection, research, documentation and a comparative market study. A professionally written appraisal will conform to a standard called USPAP or Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Your appraisal when done properly can take a considerable amount of time so be prepared to compensate the professional appraiser accordingly. Also be sure that the appraiser specializes in the types of items being appraised.

When you ask for and get a verbal or a "seat of the pants" (or Internet) written opinion this is not an appraisal, it is only a guesstimate. When asking a dealer for their opinion, remember they have to balance what they tell you. The dealers guesstimate usually falls somewhere between what they would buy it from you for, what they would sell it to you for and what they think will make you happy. This is not an objective opinion and so the declared value could be way off either way.

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posted 01-25-2002 08:33 AM            

Your photos weren't displaying properly (posted 01-24-2002 01:54 PM). I edited your photos and put them on our web server.

You did use the UBB code for posting your photos correctly. The problem came from where your photos were stored (GeoCities). GeoCities uses technology to block images from displaying on other web sites. Only sites (like Ebay) which have a business relationship with Geocities are unblocked.

I am sure your ISP (@home), gives you (for free) at least 10 meg of storage space. You should store your photos there.

posted 01-25-2002 10:54 AM            

Thanks for correcting the photos for me. They showed up fine for me when I first posted them?? Anyways, any ideas as to the pattern name? I also have another question... I have some spoons that are marked OVD with a line of something running thru the middle of the letters??? Any ideas?

posted 01-25-2002 01:38 PM            

Thats what they told me at a local antique store. The mark is the exact one you posted though.