About Michelle Lieberman Expertise My expertise is in the area of American sterling silver and coin silver flatware and holloware, including identifying silversmiths and makers, types and patterns of flatware and their usage. I am unable to answer questions pertaining to silverplate or foreign silver.
Experience With over 25 years experience in selling vintage silver, I now devote much of my time educating others in this field.
Education/Credentials BA California State University Los Angeles
I am very confused about this set, are they fakes? or not. They are marked on talons Sterling Tiffany& Co. England. English Hallmarks on tail are I think RO?(maker), Lion(sterling), Leopards head(London), C(1958?)I have searched but can't find anything Tiffany with this kind of mark.
My knowledge of silver is very limited,so my questions are-did Tiffany import at this period of time?
These are a heavy metal,more like bronze-as is the finish.
I would have assumed fake except that I know the history of this set. They were given as a gift from a prominent, influential Pa. political family, to a highly placed educational administrator.
I would appreciate any information you can give on this.
Thanks,
cathy
Answer Hello Cathy.
Tiffany & Co. would have been the retailer of the set, with the RO in the hallmark being the maker. Tiffany has been importing silver for well over 100 years and continues to do so, so I don't doubt these were purchased at Tiffany's. Tiffany's has a fine store in London, but both the England and Sterling marks on the bottom indicate the set was exported for sale to the U.S. and not sold in England (those marks would not be there if they were sold in the U.K.).
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