Featured Crumber / crumb tray

Pretty sure is silver of some fineness- it's kind of a mess - the tip of the handle is broken off, there is some lettering on the back of the tray but it's mostly worn off. On the ball at the tip of the handle there may be an impressed mark or two but it is very worn - so I'm not sure. Over 10" long. I't's fairly heavy at over 9 ounces. The handle medallion on each side has an eagle? surrounded by flowers and other decoration - on top of that there is a small sphere/ball which previously had something else at the tip but has been broken off. The tray itself has a nice chased decoration. As a wild guess - this looks german to me? I don't really know - and hence here I am! Thanks for looking and for any insight.

~

 

Another angle on the handle:



Possible impressed mark on the tip of the handle(maybe it's just a dent):

 

Looks like this says Italy:


This looks like it says Germany, but on closer inspection I don't think it does:


On the medallion, the Roman eagle perhaps?

 

Looks like maybe two Owls standing atop each other (facing in opposite directions) underneath the Eagle as well!!! GREAT images, BTW, aaron!!!!

 

Thanks AJ! Agreed possibly says Italy but it's so worn it's really hard to tell... Germany...thats a maybe too. I'd also agree Roman Eagle is a possibility yes. Also maybe the Mexican eagle? Just a thought.

 

Thanks Aquitaine... I can see what you're saying about the owls. When I have it in hand they look more like roses

 

The mexican eagle ideally has a snake in its beak. That is how the Aztecs knew where to settle, according to a prophecy it had to be the place where they saw an eagle on a cactus, with a snake in its beak.

 

This is a real puzzler. I can't think of any rationale for being marked both Italy and Germany, and like AJ, I have my doubts about both of those impressions.

If I had to guess (on the basis of style more than anything) I would look to Hanau, first. But that just a total guess.

 

Thanks Bakers!

 

Can you line this up with your Italy word? And do you see impressions to this length?

Really, just a shot in the dark, it could be any word.

 

You seem to be a good shot !!!

 

Good hunting again, Hunting! So 'Italy' would be Kunstanstalt, and Germany would be .... Germany.
But which Kunstanstalt or art institute? I searched WMF, but haven't found this particular crumb tray. Some great Art Nouveau ones, though.
At least we can narrow it down to Germany.

 

I think I see a shape under Italy. It’s a line with a bowed bottom, like a bowl. Maybe Aaron can check, so I don’t have to get my crayon.

 

I just looked with a magnifying glass and I don't see anything except for a little staining. Also that wording is a possibility but I'm still not sure... I don't think there's enough of it showing to really say yes or no without some other type of confirmation. It's what I call a definite maybe

 

Ok Aaron,
The Butler did it!

 

And well they may be roses....Owls are just what popped out at me when I looked!!

 

After you pointed it out, I thought they were owls!