Help With a Few Spoons

[What Me Worry?]

I bought a bag of souvenir spoons over the weekend and one really has me stumped. Doesn't look silver and the only mark on the back is "91% Zir". I'm guessing here. Searched online and found nothing. Maybe it's "16% Z"? Either way, didn't find any info. Wondering if anyone here has come across this.



Also, sterling Mexican spoon with maybe a Bakelite Idol on the edge. Did the rub test but that produced no distinct smell. Is it common to find Bakelite on such goods?



Thanks in advance. Just goes to show, no matter how many years I've been at this, I still have plenty to learn.

Love this place.

 

[ARC]

91 ZINC perhaps.

The other is an Aztec Calendar spoon... and that would not be Bakelite... if it is I would be very surprised.
My guess ... Dyed Agate... or Green agate / onyx.
And probably 800 silver.

 

[diggummup]

I believe the first spoon is pewter. 91% would be the amount of tin in it. I'm thinking it's German for some reason. I agree with AARC on that. I also agree that the handle is probably a dyed agate or something. I have one of those spoons myself I believe, I'll take a look in a little while. The only thing I don't agree with is the 800 silver part. Mexican silversmiths don't normally work with anything less that 925 sterling. Granted there are exceptions but they are few and far between. You'd be more apt to find .950 than .800 Mexican silver.

 

[What Me Worry?]

Thanks for the info.

 

[ARC]

Dig... .800 is a spoon "thing"... in tourist type pieces like this.

I will bet tis .800.

 

[Rodbuster209]

I have to agree with Diggum, I have one similar to this and it is marked .925, Jmho.

 

[ARC]

Looked it up... tis .925 on other listings.

I stand corrected.