Featured 800 silver bowl

Howdy all was hoping someone might know the origin of this bowl with a winged lion.
Heavily tarnished and I know a shock to some but I like Stirling in it's original state so started to polish so you could see a little more detail. Around 6 inches across with a s800 mark on bottom. Thinking middle eastern maybe. At 4 dollars thought it was pretty good. Did test as silver also. Chris

 

Italian? The Lion of Saint Mark is the symbol of Venice.

 

I would go for one of the Venetian territories as well. Either Venice itself, or one of the towns that were once Venetian, like those along the coast of Croatia and Montenegro.

 

Love the lion.

 

First lesson, Novice Learner: Silver has to be 925 or better to qualify as sterling.

 

That's quite a bowl! But yes as Bronwen says - 'STERLING' is actually a fineness level - it means 925 or higher.

Yours is 800 - which most people call 'continental grade' silver (because it was used extensively on the European continent).

 

Lovely thanks all re the sterling details.
I should have asked, any age to this at all does one think

 

One does.
This one at least.
My guess is first half of the 20th century.