Candlesticks I didn't buy

[tamrock]

Last night I hit a big thrifty and looked over these silver repoussé candlesticks. At the base they have the tiny French silver touchmark of a Mercury head profile. They are not weighted and on the underside of the base you see the opposite impressions of the repoussé details. I did not buy these, as that oxidation is funky and has the bluish huge of silverplate. Also I've circled the one on the right as it has a repair that looks somewhat amateuristic. It's like that section was replaced by very thin silver sheet and reinforced with something inside. This morning I recalled a cased silver proof coin I once had where the sealed plastic case had unsealed and the atmosphere entered in and it turned that brilliant proof Franklin coin with the same bluish oxidation as I'm seeing on these candlesticks. I'm wondering now if I should have picked these up? The two would run me a bit over 20 bucks. The odds are good they'll be there today as I put them on a top shelf and a few things in front of them, but that's no guarantee they will be there today. I once found a very nice fly rod in a tube, but they had a super long line to check out, so I put it in an out-of-the-way place to come back later when things cooled down and someone found it and it was gone. Tell me what you would do? Risk the 20 bucks or pass on these. ?? ... They're about 12 inches tall and if they're bogus that won't be the first time I've shot 20 bucks away.

 

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[niffler]

Risk it, I say. The mercury head is an export mark I think. Maybe look them over some more, and try to find Minerva head or a boars head. The french have tiny marks and put them anywhere and everywhere in my experience.

 

[SCpicker]

I can’t make out the hallmark but the mercury head is the French silver hallmark for larger items such as those. If it is the mercury head it will have a small number with it indicating purity. No risk and I can’t believe you didn’t buy those instantly.

 

[tamrock]

Yeah what's 23 bucks. I went back and got em after seeing this info on line. Hallmark Research Institute according to it this export French 1840 to 1879 Mercury mark with the octagon border was put on larger silver items of a 95% grade silver and .750 gold, which I know these are not. I think the drip nozzles are replaced with silverplate ones. They're not crimped tight and spin, plus they tarnish like silverplate, but I'll check them out future. Here's some more pics and one of the actual mark on these candlesticks.

 

[JimDon]

You should make 10 times your money on these

 

[tamrock]

You should make 10 times your money on these

Easy profit, but somewhat of a bummer on the crappy repair work on the one. I might see if one of the few silversmith around here in Boulder county Colorado can do a better job. The repaired one is even a little taller. I cleaned the good one up and it came out spectacular looking. They're gonna be put into my collection for now.