Hallmark / purity help

Very faint hallmarks on this pedestal bowl.
I hope you can see the marks enough.
I have tried to figure this out. But not sure. Thank you, Susan the bowl surface tests different than the bottom.

Whole item photo, please…

In the absence of any sterling hallmarks (UK or otherwise), I’d say it’s almost certainly silverplate. That’s especially true if any sort of testing produces a different result on the base and the bowl.

If so, “purity” isn’t a relevant question - it’s not silver.

Thank you Jeff. The base comes apart from the top. I plan to melt the base and check for sure.
I own an xrf gun which is showing a 925 purity on the bowl. I have to determine for sure as it is part of an estate lot I am purchasing. I was hoping the 2 stamps might have been a country purity. I do have a reasonable knowledge of marks. I value your time.

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That’s certainly a surprise. The XRF is probably the most reliable test you can do. It would be very strange if the bowl were sterling, but the base be something else!

Perhaps someone else will recognize the marks. If the piece were North American, of course, it would say “STERLING” in an unmistakable way. If from the UK, it would have proper British hallmarks. Most European countries also have fairly recognizable sterling marks. It could be something more obscure, like Middle Eastern, where the markings get rather cryptic.

ETA: This may be a job for Bartholomew, who has a knack for doing tough image matches. I’ve had no luck, so far.

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Jeff, thank you for the kindness in your language. Ii have some unexpected life challenges I am overcoming and kind words help. If the item is plate the xrf will read 99 percent ag. And if there is wear, maybe to 97… I catch flatware all the time,
At 99percent… fake. Plated sneaks into sterling flatware sets as replacement items… Some buyers won’t notice this.
I have one other item if someone can look at these marks? I am trying to be careful financially… this is a large estate purchase I am processing…


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That often confuses people. They forget that the microscopic layer of silver plating is, indeed, pure silver, rather than sterling. Ironic that the real thing reads “lower” than the fake. :slight_smile:

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Jeff, you really helped me think this out.
I didn’t xrf it enough the first time. The inside of the bowl, where the silver would wear came up at 935, but multiple tests are up to 960
And the outside areas are 99percent and 97.
I am going to return it. With the base intact.
Always learning!

Here’s the answer: