I have a small pot that is stamped silver 950. From what ive read, 950 silver is better than sterling. I just wanted some opinions on if the stamp means its actually 950 silver. Thanks.
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Without testing and absent a determination of its origin’s stamping reliability any comment would be speculative.
But the following is true: sterling is .925% silver and the general standard for UK and US product together with many less prominent producers. .950 sometimes referred to as the MInerva standard is a higher percentage of silver to sterling and is the standard for France.
This is not English as it is not marked with the Lion Passant and it is not French as the language used for “Silver” would be in French. So it is probably US, produced in the first half of the 20th century in the Art Deco style favoured before the war by the various silversmiths clustered in and around Connecticut,
My opinion on the mark then, is there is little to be gained marking it the higher standard if it is not.
I’m presuming it is sugar bowl or possibly a jam container. Given it is a sugar bowl there is presumably the rest of a tea service floating around which could possible explain why this item is unmarked as to maker.
CRWW