Decorative Spoon

I have this spoon that I can't make sense of the markings. I found the markings on 925-1000 at: http://www.925-1000.com/Fgerman_hanau_marks_01.html
From the markings it appears it is made by STORCK & SINSHEIMER. But I'm not clear if that is correct. When I tested the spoon with acid it comes back positive for silver. Any information is appreciated!

Here are the marks at 925-1000.com:

 

Looks right to me. One of the problems with Hanau marks is that there was no real system of control, meaning that the makers changed the marks they used frequently and often used marks that were similar to those of other jurisdictions with abandon. (As you can see from the examples.) They seemed to take the position that "the more marks, the better!"

It also helps that your spoon's design shows the over-the-top style they liked to produce.

 

Thank you! I found so many markings to be very confusing ;-) I suppose without any control of the silver industry in this area that it's quite possible to be silver even though I can't find a mark for silver? Like I said, I did an acid test and it shows to be silver. Again, thank you! Lisa

 

Yes, they did use silver, just not of quite the same fineness as sterling.

 

one explanation for the very special markings: the count of Hanau accepted Calvinist refugees at end of the 16th century, originally from what is France, Netherlands and Belgium today (then - horribile dictu - Spanish and Catholic) and Jews (hear ye) at the start of the 17th c..
all under the condition of course to bring their knowledge and skills to make him rich.
especially the Calvinists had good connections to the Netherlands, England and France; and what brings more joy than cheating the ancient oppressor of his silver taxes (or was it tea...).
it seems that the count was sly enough not to overdo it by letting them loose, so their silver was normally as good as the normal German silver of the time but not marked as such.

 

Very interesting!
Because of the mark, I assume it's safe to say this was made sometime between 1874-1926 when STORCK & SINSHEIMER was in production?

And because it tested positive (red) with a scratch acid test it is silver? But not probably not sterling? Thanks?

 

There really was a company named Storck and Sinsheimer?!

 

Yes, there was.

Lisa - I have never done acid-testing so I don't know how specific that red result is. Does it indicate a range of fineness or just "there's some silver here.?

Frankly, I wouldn't expect a Hanau piece with known marks to NOT be silver of some kind, but don't know of a specific fineness of the alloy implied by any of the markings on your piece.

 

Hi Silver.
One hospital I worked in had a company called S&M Instrument Repair who fixed equiptment in the ER. People used to say "Is the S&M guy there"?
greg

 

Like a hospital hasn't enough drama!