Hi everyone, I would be very grateful if anyone can ID the maker + ID the other marks on this object, which is a 1:12th scale miniature silver photo frame for a dolls house, thankyou in advance
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The hallmarks are for sterling, London, 2006:
It would appear that the maker has not been identified yet. The assay office should be able to help with that.
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Hi Jeff, many thanks for your reply, I haven’t got a clue about the Assay Office, or what to do, that why i ask here lol
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An internet search for the London Assay Office would give you their web site. There is a “contact” link at Contact Us.
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I am waiting for a response from Karen Green.
" Hello Bart, and thanks for your email.
The maker V&MP belongs to Victor & Muriel Pain who were also known as V & M Pain. They were registered with us from 1985-2015.
I hope this has been helpful.
Kind regards
Karen Green
Registration Officer"
Victor and Muriel Pain were a highly regarded British husband-and-wife team of miniature silversmiths. Operating from London, they made detailed, scaled-down items for dollhouses and collections under the brand name Simply Silver. Many of their pieces were so fine that they featured official silversmith hallmarks.
Victor and Muriel Pain made a wide variety of silver items for dollhouses. Their work includes tiny teacups, candelabras, Champagne buckets, and trinket boxes. Collectors prize their work for its realism and accuracy. Today, vintage pieces are sold on sites like Swan House Miniatures and through auction houses like Bonhams. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
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A nice, speedy result! Time for Phil to update the “V” page for the maker’s marks. 
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Hi Bart, thankyou so much for your help, wow! I am amazed, I didn’t realise this tiny object was so special, its been in a drawer for years, here’s a photo of it, do you think I should clean it or leave as is?
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It’s a pleasure to be able to help others, to serve not only with kind words but also with deeds. As for the item itself, you should restore its shine, but with caution. Our forum has many tips on how to do this. I’m curious to see the results, because it’s truly worth it. Godspeed, 1963!
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An update for the V&MP mark is on its way. I have just had another look at our OP’s picture and I think that the date letter is actually j for 2008 rather than g for 2006.
Phil
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Or an upside-down f for 2005.
But who am I to argue with our resident Man of Letters? 
(I get really lost with the heavy gothic date series.)
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Bless you Bart, thankyou so much for your lovely message, I really do appreciate all the help for today and for other items you’ve helped me with in the not too distant past, and not forgetting the input from other members, this is a wonderful forum, and I’m so glad I joined, again my sincere thanks, take care, Patricia
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j 100%
Good job, Phil!
Although upside down it looks like an “f,” as Jeff suggested. Despite the similarity, I’m betting on a “j”—even the order of the symbols matches.
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Always at your service, Patricia! God bless U!
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This was the image of the 2008 “j” that put me off that as the correct match:
It’s almost tail-less. The alternate image is typographically quite different!
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It doesn’t matter now. Together, we solved the mystery to help Patricia. Amen.
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God bless you too Bart, absolutely wonderful people on this forum, I will be checking out cleaning advice here tomorrow, wish me luck! 
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The standard advice is, “don’t rush it.” It’s true that sterling should be shiny - I’ve always thought that the phrase, “original patina,” was an oxymoron. But you don’t have to get there all at once. Repeated gentle polishing is preferable to going after it with 150-grit sandpaper!
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Many Thanks Jeff, I must admit I am extremely nervous about cleaning something so tiny, and the realisation its quite valuable too, I’m mainly worried about damaging the photo itself, and the fine ribbon detailing, I was considering buying some of those ready impregnated little soft polishing cloths, rather than using something out of a tube, I may be wrong, I don’t know, I’ll gladly take any advice, take care, Patricia
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