Featured I can't tell...

This tiny spoon is 4 inches long and has no marks at all. It tarnishes like silver, but it's hard to tell if the tarnish looks like plated or sterling, or something else entirely. It's non-magnetic.



I've seen similar filigree pieces that were sterling and I wonder if anyone would put this effort into a plated or non-silver item.

When and where were these made?

 

It sure wants to be silver. If there's some tarnish on it, rub your thumb over the tarnish. The more black rubs off on your thumb, the better the odds of silver. Silverplate is more difficult, and nickel may or may not budge at all.

 

My guess is .800 or .835, more likely, if not sterling.

 

Looks close to this ...
https://tangibleinvestmentsinc.com/...filigree-demitasse-spoons-early-20th-century/

 

Thanks for that link. It goes a ways toward confirming my thoughts about this spoon.
I really didn't think it was sterling. It just doesn't have the "feel". I just didn't want it to be plated or aluminum or who knows what. I'm ok with calling it .800.

For no particular reason, I'd conjured up images of eastern Europe, between the wars. The link says possibly Russian, early 20th century. Close enough.

 

That could be Russian for sure. Eastern European anyway.

 

Most filigree I come across is 800 silver since the delicate wires have more strength. In sterling they can break easily.

 

That is a new one to me! One day I may be bored enough to test it out. Do a lineup of all three. I’ll report back if I do. I’ve seen a lot of “home” type silver tests mentioned online. This one’s been hiding until now.

 

Definitely not Russian (so many sellers want their silver to be Russian). My failing memory keeps telling me it's Turkish, the best match I can find at the moment is just the similar tops of spoons shown with filigree zarfs at Michael Backman, 'open-work' in the bowl noted, and a similar unidentified spoon on eBay with a filigree inset in the bowl.

https://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/archived_objects/filigree-silver-zarfs-turkey-ottoman/








~Cheryl

 

Believe the majority of filigree and plique-à-jour pieces in my collection are sterling, though also some in lower quality silver as well as silverplate...

~Cheryl