Silver Spoon Antiques

 A recent post in a specialist group introduced me to a mark for an unknown silversmith. The stamp on the silver fork was 'G.PALMA' over 'SMIRNE'. Smirne is an alternative for Smyrna. The city of Smyrna has a long history of thousands of year and is mo dern day   İzmir (since about 1930).  Palma is a surname of Italian origins (indeed Smirne is the Italian version of Smyrna). There was a large population of Italians in Smyrna in the nineteenth century.  A number of pieces by G.Palma have been found, including larger items such as vases and small salvers. There is also a few variations of his mark, some including 'SMIRNE', some not. Three versions are pictured below.  The style of his silver appears to be catering to the Italian market rather than Ottoman.  At this stage there doesn't appear to be more information about G.Palma...another research project for someone! 

 I haven't seen any research or pieces of silver made in the Danish possessions in India. This is an interesting example for someone looking for a project!  (Sold by Dore and Rees 2023) A LARGE TUREEN ON STAND, DANISH COLONIAL, POSSIBLY TRANQUEBAR, C.1820. A very large circular lidded tureen on a plate shaped stand, with lion mask ring handles. The ball finial surrounded by fluted chasing. The mark appears to refer to the standard of the alloy 14 Lod 8 Gr. (90.25%), along with a maker's mark FK. Most likely made by a Danish silversmith working in one of the Danish colonial possessions in India, the largest being Tranquebar where a Danish assay office and mint was located.  32.5 cm. high 3668 g. (inc. stand)

We have been looking for an example by the silversmith, F.Saurier, for a number of years and we sadly missed out on seeing a piece earlier this year.  Examples have some to auction, but neither auction has photographed his mark. The both appear to be stamped 'F.SAURIER' . If anyone has a piece by him, we would love to see it and the mark.  The two silver pieces known by him (both pictured below), are pieces of hollowware - the first a beaker/julep cup, the second a mug. 

 Up for auction a number of years ago was a group of memorabilia related to King Henri I of Haiti.   On March 28, 1811, a former slave and now revolutionary leader, Henri Christophe, had declared himself King Henri I of the Kingdom of Haiti. He established a monarchy and attempted to modernise the country through various reforms, including building infrastructure, promoting education, and encouraging agricultural development. Christophe is also known for constructing the Citadelle Laferrière, a massive fortress that remains a symbol of Haitian resilience and ingenuity. In this lot was a spoon that was later resold through another auction house. It is crested with Henri's crest and has an unknown maker's mark struck three times ( Crowned LS or IS ) on the back of the spoon. This maker is probably an unidentified Haitian silversmith. There is still much research and work to be done on the silver and goldsmiths of the Caribbean Islands, as well as other colonial decorative arts i...

 As mentioned in a previous post, it is suggested that after Greece received its independence Greek silversmiths began marking their silver with just a maker's mark. Although a national hallmarking system was discussed, it was never implemented. This post is just a short list of some of the names seen on silver objects.  K.GEORGIADES - ' Κ.ΓΕΩΡΓΙΑΔHΣ '     Seen on a pair of salvers, a large salver and flatware M.SOTIERIOU - ' Μ.ΣΩΤΗΕΡΙΟΥ '     Seen on a beaker THERAPON - ' ΦΕΡΑΠΩΝ '     Seen on flatware

 The nineteenth century was one of big changes in Greece. We haven't been able to find a reference book on silver made in this period. Much was unmarked, even though the Ottoman Empire had an assay system for silver. There have been a few examples of pieces stamped just with a maker's mark. These probably date to the time of the newly independent Greece (from 1832). National hallmarks seem to have been proposed between 1832 and 1860, but were not put into use. One maker seen is 'K.GEORGIADES' ( Κ.ΓΕΩΡΓΙΑΔHΣ). It has been noted on a large silver tray and a set of forks and spoons. Any info anyone has would be appreciated.  Tray sold a Sothebys, stamped twice with maker's mark Example of maker's mark on set of forks