Expert: Martin G Roberts - 7/2/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
We have a pewter tankard with mark in the bottom containing an angel holding a sword and scales. German is engraved on front roughly translates to "for memory". Any ideas on worth? do you need any other info? thanks for your help.
Answer -
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There are good, authentic pieces such as this, but the mark is not necessarily consistent with the date and type. Further details would require handling the piece.

Thank you for answering. Some history on the item might help . This peice was looted by a Great uncle during WWII in germany according to the story we got. Height is 6.5", Dia. is 3.5" at top and flares at bottom to 4.25". The bottom and inside of the lid appears to have been plated. The lettering on the front is actually "Fur Erinnerung". There are three engraved decorative rings about .5" wide, two on the body and one on the lid. There is also Lettering around the lid "v.d. Lekretaren d. W.A. 2 d. bay. Landespolaei", the last part of the last word is hard to see maye some small damage. Finally, if it were an "authentic piece" as you suggest any estimate on range of value would be helpful. Again thank you very much for your time!
         Mike Monaghan

Answer
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Yes, everything was apparently 'looted' by uncles in WW2, or it was granny's granny's piece, or whatever. The late 19th and early 20th century saw vast numbers of reproductions of this type of object made. My specialism is British pewter, so not sure why you are asking me to translate a phrase in German, but if I had to guess I'd say it's probably c1900, a commemorative piece, of little value. But of course I could be completely wrong.