Expert: Martin G Roberts - 6/22/2007

Question
i have a lovely working compass....i would guess early 20th century, but could be late 19th. It is round, 6 in across and made of what appears to be pewter. In the middle is a small round( about 2 in across)litho of two (young boy) nude angels holding a post w/ a fleur de li ce on top.Around the litho is a carved sun.There are 4 marks on back.  One is the work "etain", another is an oval with three trees (or could be three hills)and the letters G T above them.Another is a shield w/ 95% written in it and the last one looks like a french coat of armor.Who made it?  what do all of those marks mean?

Answer
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Etain is French for tin, and is also the French word for pewter. 95% probably refers to the % tin in the alloy, and therefore indicates modern manufacture (2nd half of the 20th century). I cannot help regarding maker, as modern French marks are not my field.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk