posted 05-06-2012 07:05 PM            

In passing I saw a cup with a hunting scene on it and an engrave date of "17 64". The only mark (3 letters above a # '63') was struck 3 times on the bottom. The 3 letter mark and the '63' were in the same cartouche. If this were a date mark incorperated into the makers mark, that would have meant that a new makers stamp would have to be made every year worn out or not.

Also, the owner thought the cup was American and I told him that I did not think so.

I looked in "Tardy's", and the only number marks I saw that would work were Antwerp, Belgium in the 1760's.

Am I missing something?

Thanks in advance for your help.

posted 05-20-2012 11:52 AM            

I am definitely not an expert on Antwerp.

However the habit of setting mark more than once is common practice. Done late in time to have it passed for silver. And before that done because of lack of people to set marks. Therefor an idea of age has to be taken into account.

In Denmark/Norway regulation said 4 marks - but majority of silver has only makers mark struck 1 - 2 - 3 or even 4 times.

Regarding year. In principle maker should make a new mark every year - giving date. In practice that is not the case - marks was used over a period of time.

Again this varies. Sorry that you have not a picture - so we could have evaluated.