Unknown silver cutlery

by **Flintztone** April 12th 2013, 1:34 am

Found this set today. Does anyone know what the 800 and the circled crown means? They are very light in weight compared to other metal cutlery sets I've seen. I have no means of testing the silver. Due to the weight, I would say they have no base metal content.

[img] Unknown silver cutlery 118

[/img] [img] Unknown silver cutlery 218

[/img] [img] Unknown silver cutlery 318

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by **user9318** April 12th 2013, 7:15 am

They are not official national marks of Italy that was used from 1934, but I would not like to say they are pre 1934, as the stamped marks look new.

More on italian silver marks: http://www.925-1000.com/Fitalian_marks_01.html
and here: http://www.silvercollection.it/italianhallmarks.html

Hope that helps.

by **Flintztone** April 13th 2013, 1:06 am

The items are over 30 years old and could possibly be older. They were discoloured prior to cleaning. They were only cleaned with a dry cloth prior to posting as they were turning black. It took some rubbing in order to remove the tarnish substance. I still don't have no idea of the age of these though, but welcome your comments. I took the these to get checked to see if they were genuine silver and they have confirmed them as being that. The only reason I was unsure was the fact that at first I thought they were aluminium. I hope this is of some help.

by **user9318** April 13th 2013, 6:39 am

They could well be older than 1934 then, as there was no national standard on hallmarking in Italy before then. They tended to be only marked 800 with a makers mark, sometimes just 800 for the silver content (800 parts silver per 1000).

by **Potty** April 13th 2013, 9:03 pm

No really something I know much about, but assuming they are solid silver, the 800 will mean parts per 1000 of silver (as user9318 has said), meaning it's a lower purity than "Stirling Silver" (925/1000).

I expect they are from the last half of the 20th century, it does not take time for tarnish to build up, especially if they have been used.

We have 2 Georgian silver tea spoons that we use frequently, cleaned them up to be very bright 2 years back, now they look almost black! Big Laughter

by **Flintztone** April 14th 2013, 12:04 am

user9318 wrote:They could well be older than 1934 then, as there was no national standard on hallmarking in Italy before then. They tended to be only marked 800 with a makers mark, sometimes just 800 for the silver content (800 parts silver per 1000).

Thanx for your info. Age may never be established and they are not new, however they are silver (800 parts silver per 1000). Unknown silver cutlery 847164

Are they black like these Potty? Unknown silver cutlery 17354

by **Potty** April 16th 2013, 6:02 pm

Flintztone wrote:
Are they black like these Potty?

I'll have to try and remember to take a picture sometime, when they are both out of the dishwasher! Big Laughter

by **Flintztone** April 23rd 2013, 2:22 am

That dishwasher is taking a loooooong time potty. Still waiting for the pictures. Unknown silver cutlery 1778162979

by Mr Punch April 23rd 2013, 2:47 am

Potty wrote:
Flintztone wrote:
Are they black like these Potty?

I'll have to try and remember to take a picture sometime, when they are both out of the dishwasher!

by **Potty** April 23rd 2013, 3:11 am

Not great pictures, but it gives an idea, I put a cleaner (6 months since it was cleaned...) silver vista case in the picture for comparison.

by **Flintztone** May 12th 2013, 12:53 pm

Cheers Potty, Just to let you know, considering I only purchased a set consisting of 12 of each for a mere £5.00. I managed to get a very good price indeed for them. I thought I would be stuck with them, as they don't have any hallmards as such. Most Excellent

by **Potty** May 12th 2013, 2:35 pm

They have hallmarks, just don't Good Ole British ones Excellent

by **Flintztone** May 13th 2013, 12:33 am

Thanks for the correction Potty. Happy

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