Sterling silver jewelry box?

[Beachkid23]

I bought this today and haven't gotten home yet. The anticipation is killing me I'm pretty sure it's plated but I don't know the marks underneath what they mean. So I'll throw some quick pictures up.





















I got something else really really cool too but I can't take a picture of it right now. I hope to do some research on this when I get home it's about 5" x 5" maybe six about an inch and a half tall.

 

[diggummup]

Kind of looks like Hanau pseudo marks.

 

[Beachkid23]

Kind of looks like Hanau pseudo marks.

Thanks. I'll check it out. The one jeweler I took it to was pretty sure it was silver. I think it is too. However I have not filed into it because that looks like a bad idea! It's 10.5 ounces but either way I can take it to a place on Tuesday and they will tell me for sure.

 

[Beachkid23]

What is that Mark that has the stars underneath it that kind of looks like a Girl Scout symbol. I can't remember what it's called that would help me probably in my search. I can't figure out what the third symbol is either... it looks like a shrimp LOL I have no idea what it is all I know is the swan. I think it's amazing sometimes I find this stuff. It looked old, it looked cool, and it was five bucks. I'm taking a chance! If it was 50 bucks I would've passed on it and probably missed out!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice find!

 

[Beachkid23]

Here are some more pictures.

 

[diggummup]

It's called a Fleur-De-Lis.

 

[diggummup]

Try looking under French Hallmarks too.

 

[GibH]

Third mark looks like it could be a weevil. God only knows why they would use a freaking bug. Like dig said, check French hallmarks.

 

[Beachkid23]

Third mark looks like a weevil. God only knows why they would use a freaking bug. Like dig said, check French hallmarks.

I can't find anything like it. So I'm going to polish it for now. It's pretty looking as it's turning from black to silver.

 

[Beachkid23]

It cleans up nice. I've been polishing it for about an hour now I'm done though for tonight.



I did not do the soldier though. I left him as is you can see the mark a heck of a lot better too. still can't find it though.

 

[2Minnesota]

Swan was a French import mark. Used on items imported into France at one time. The other marks I can't help with. The box is very cool, lots oh detail.

 

[diggummup]

I believe that is a depiction of Louis the XIV.

 

[Joe777Cool]

fleur-de-lis looks like it was used by a few sheffield plate makers: Old Sheffield plate: marks and hallmarks of Old Sheffield makers- D-I

swan and weevil are both French import marks: French Hallmarks - Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks

I'd say plated but only 70% sure.

 

[GibH]

I'm fairly certain that is a weevil mark. That would make it an import piece of .800 silver.

 

[Beachkid23]

Thank you everyone for the help. I see how it could be the weevil mark. What a strange choice. Maybe their national bug? Anyhow thank you again and I'm going to run all three pieces I bought this weekend down to this antique guy. There was the silver box, dragon box which is under the Chinese junk thread, and the silver bone forks. Not a bad hit from 1 table at a swap meet retirement home community. i'm glad it was all old people to because I guess they don't like stuff that looks ugly or tarnished. I sure do!!!

 

[Beachkid23]

As far as it being plated the testing shows that it's not. Everything I've tested in the past that's plated fades away. And I tested the corner of the box and the inside edge of the box where the metal would be the thinnest.

 

[2Minnesota]

Is it supposed to turn red when acid tested?

 

[Beachkid23]

Is it supposed to turn red when acid tested?

I only use the 18k acid. I could never tell the difference with the silver test acid.

 

[2Minnesota]

Ohhhhh... I have never tried that before. So it just stays the same. Like a white/silver color? I know others have mentioned using the 18 k acid for sterling testing before on the forum but I guess I didn't pay attention to what it's supposed to do or not do on silver.