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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: jmclements on January 18, 2014, 02:04:34 PM
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Hi. I have searched high and low and am stumped.
I have no idea who made this , when , or even how much silver it is . Has Hallmarks ( W. L) WITH what looks like a sideways birmingham, england - anchor and then the third hallmark - i just cannot make out .. maybe an 8 ? I also have no idea as to what the value of it is. Please help me. I paid 150 dollars ... i am hoping to resell it- as i shouldnt have spent the money to begin with . It would be very helpful to find out exactly what i just got myself into.
Thanks guys,
-J
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Here are some more pics of the halmarks
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And another one
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Walter Lunt, Birmingham silversmith !! Can`t see the other one !!
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I thought so too.. I just didnt want to "lead" anyone .. i wanted a fresh answer, ya know? .... the two WL 's for birmingham looked so similar- Also i cant seem to find another case like mine. i googled every phrase imaginable ......
My questions:
1)Do you know how old it could be ?
2)Whats up with the sideways birmingham Anchor mark?
3)How much should something like this cost? i paid 150 and need to know what to price it at so i can sell it -probably either locally or on ebay. Its gotta go asap.
4)lastly- Is it indeed a cigarette case like I thought?
sorry about the 20 questions- Uk hallmarks are really foreign to me.. If you are good with hallmark Identification- i hate to ask - but could you please try and help me out with 3 Pre russian revolutionary spoons that i have from the late 1800's? I will post them Seperately . Thanks again, friend.
-J
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Here is a full shot of it. I am having trouble uploading more than one photo per post.
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Resize and make your pics smaller, then they will load !! What size is it and take a pic with it open !! You might try a cigarette and see how it fits !!
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The pics are loading for me. If it's a cigarette case solid silver what I saw on Ebay was a range of $139-$595. Couldn't find any by that silversmith though.
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Where did you buy this case ?? My opinion is you will be lucky to break even on it !!
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Estate sale.
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Doubt it's Walter Lunt. Unusual anchor mark, too.
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Additional pics
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And lastly
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Doubt it's Walter Lunt. Unusual anchor mark, too.
Mark was identical,, any other you know of ??
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Lunt has a full stop between the W and L, can't see one here. Also, Lunt wasn't known for cigarette cases.
Most cases i know of are marked internally. Seems strange that this should have a rarely seen anchor mark placed in such an inappropriate position.
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both tabs of the the case are marked. Im no expert - but to me it Indicates that the pieces were made seperately ( as they should have been) and then put together . The hallmarks are located on the Bottom of both tabs and really, to me seems very appropriate to place them in an inconspicuous but obvious place so
the person can see them clearly but also not have them BAM in your face. I like the hallmarks there. The cigarette does not fit ..could also be a compact Or maybe a card holder? Also, i have seen other pieces marked with the sideways birmingham mark, but have no idea what they have in common Aside from it beinv birmingham assay mark... Also, there is a small period or dot if you will between the w & the L if that helps any.
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P.s. i am open to others aside from william lunt . .. there was another WL maker mark that was very close
Walter Lunt
Walter Low
William lewis
.. i am not extremely familiar with uk hallmarks and any information on identifying this piece correctly is appreciated.
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just because a modern day cigarette does,nt fit into the case,does not mean that it is,nt a cigarette case,...cigarettes, were smaller,when this case was made,..personally, i,d say it was a card case,....as to its value,..well, we will assume that its silver,what is its weight,..in oz & gr,...knowing for sure who made it would be a great advantage, but...all is not lost if you can,t...because when you come to advertise it,..you just need good pics of the marks,..the weight,...and any potential buyers will make up their own mind....for its not up to you to prove who made it,its up to the buyers to decide if the want it for what it is, ..or for its intrinsic value...
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Cigarettes were unfiltered back then and were about the size of thew 100`s now minus the filter !! But in looking at this one I believe it is a card case rather than a cigarette case !!
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Cigarettes were unfiltered back then and were about the size of thew 100`s now minus the filter !! But in looking at this one I believe it is a card case rather than a cigarette case !!
sometimes i wonder about you.....read my post above yours.....Snap!! ;D
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And how else would I agree with you ?? ;D
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look through these http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Birmingham-WL-WR.html
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Lunt is the only one that matches shape and initials !!
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Well i'd disagree there but they aren't the only silversmiths who used that monogram
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Who else used the W.L in that shape ?? I couldn`t find another !!
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just because a modern day cigarette does,nt fit into the case,does not mean that it is,nt a cigarette case,...cigarettes, were smaller,when this case was made,..personally, i,d say it was a card case,....as to its value,..well, we will assume that its silver,what is its weight,..in oz & gr,...knowing for sure who made it would be a great advantage, but...all is not lost if you can,t...because when you come to advertise it,..you just need good pics of the marks,..the weight,...and any potential buyers will make up their own mind....for its not up to you to prove who made it,its up to the buyers to decide if the want it for what it is, ..or for its intrinsic value...
It was sold to me as silver and apparently it tested silver. weighs 97.0 grams
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So even at salvage value it would be worth $100. So add the fact it is a nice case and is an antique most likely it should at very least meet the value you paid. As the antique market improves where it has been soft and the price of silver is at a low point which has to go up it should prove a decent investment. I would hold on to it for a bit. Selling it now could put you in a break even at best.
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Yes but is it plate or sterling !! A few dollars difference there !!
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It tested silver. Not silver plate.
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I must say that I find it odd for the hallmarks to be on the tabs. I have to agree that the anchor doesn't look like a clear cut anchor...unless my photos are different from those that others are seeing.
Not convinced this is a Lunt.
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When do people think this was made ?
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Style says to me late teens to early 20`s !!
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See the case design for me is later than that.
I'm interested in that anchor mark - the stock section is halfway down - and have e-mailed the assay office.
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Wow. Thank you. Thats smart. I wouldnt have ever thought to do that.
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Heres a better picture of the anchor.. also they tested it and said it was silver ( not silver plate).. i have not independently tested it myself . I trust them. hope this helps.
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Smart move on that one Ipcress! Can't wait to hear what they have to say!
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I rang the girl i know and she's out the office til tomorrow but will get back to me.
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Heres a better picture of the anchor.. also they tested it and said it was silver ( not silver plate).. i have not independently tested it myself . I trust them. hope this helps.
Who are they? You say you trust them. Was it an antique store, an individual or someone random? Just curious why you haven't tried testing it yourself. An acid test is very inexpensive. I just got one.
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.... i cant afford an acid test kit right now so am unable to test myself.... not unwilling- Just broke . How much was your kit? I guess i could always go to my jeweler but i feel its unnecessary. I can get my money back if they lied. Thats why i trust them .
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Don't use an acid test on anything like this. Most decent jewellers or pawnbrokers will have a laser gun which can verify the type of metal.
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Don't use an acid test on anything like this. Most decent jewellers or pawnbrokers will have a laser gun which can verify the type of metal.
Laser gun... they are fancy!
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.... i cant afford an acid test kit right now so am unable to test myself.... not unwilling- Just broke . How much was your kit? I guess i could always go to my jeweler but i feel its unnecessary. I can get my money back if they lied. Thats why i trust them .
When tight on money always start investing small and work your way up. Take it to your local pawn shop and act like you are thinking of selling it just to get some free information. Just tell them you want to think about it a bit and leave . If these people would refund you if it wasn't what they said you should be safe that it is sterling. Have to say too I have never seen marks like that on plate before.
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I thought about the Deco era but decided it just wasn`t right since it an English piece !! If it were made here I would have put it later !!
I am interested in what that third mark is !!
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So i'm on my hols, listening to a podcast about WWI before i nod off and it reminds me of a group of German medals and ephemera i catalogued. One item was the soldier's German silver cigarette case. The medals were WWII but the design of the case was strikingly similar to this,
I wonder if that mark we haven't seen a close up off is an 800 silver mark and the case was imported ? I'm also reminded of the little conversation Rauville and i had about Hoffmann.
Look at the cases in these listings
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/19739002_a-late-victorian-silver-vesta-a-german-cigarette-case (http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/19739002_a-late-victorian-silver-vesta-a-german-cigarette-case)
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18383886_german-cigarette-case-800-silver (http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18383886_german-cigarette-case-800-silver)
( on that badge, the military " tinnie " has been added later )
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.... i cant afford an acid test kit right nowjavascript:void(0); so am unable to test myself.... not unwilling- Just broke . How much was your kit? I guess i could always go to my jeweler but i feel its unnecessary. I can get my money back if they lied. Thats why i trust them .
When tight on money always start investing small and work your way up. Take it to your local pawn shop and act like you are thinking of selling it just to get some free information. Just tell them you want to think about it a bit and leave . If these people would refund you if it wasn't what they said you should be safe that it is sterling. Have to say too I have never seen marks like that on plate before.
Great piece of Advice, Ice...here...i,m getting good at this rhyming ;D
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Don't use an acid test on anything like this. Most decent jewellers or pawnbrokers will have a laser gun which can verify the type of metal.
Laser gun... they are fancy!
I had a stonker in the 1950,s.....wish i had it now,it was made of cast alloy, and lit up when i pulled the trigger, and it made a crunchy whirring sound....just like a real laser from....the 50,s.....i even had the box it came in....and it had my hero,s pic on it......Dan Dare..Pilot of the Future.... ;D
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So i'm on my hols, listening to a podcast about WWI before i nod off and it reminds me of a group of German medals and ephemera i catalogued. One item was the soldier's German silver cigarette case. The medals were WWII but the design of the case was strikingly similar to this,
I wonder if that mark we haven't seen a close up off is an 800 silver mark and the case was imported ? I'm also reminded of the little conversation Rauville and i had about Hoffmann.
Look at the cases in these listings
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/19739002_a-late-victorian-silver-vesta-a-german-cigarette-case (http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/19739002_a-late-victorian-silver-vesta-a-german-cigarette-case)
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18383886_german-cigarette-case-800-silver (http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18383886_german-cigarette-case-800-silver)
( on that badge, the military " tinnie " has been added later )
Its possible !!