Topic: Stunning Magnifying Glass with Cut Glass Handle - Thoughts?

[pegwellbayantiquities]

Hi all, another piece to get a discussion going on What do you all think of this piece, age wise, manufacturer wise etc? Has a fantastic weight to it,  well balanced, sturdy, no makers marks to be seen - lets unravel another mystery

[chopin-liszt]

These tend to be another minefield - there are so many reproductions around, you really need to be looking for damage to the lens to ascertain any age.
And the bottom line is they are practical items - you're probably better of with one which has a new lens if you want it for using.
(says she who uses a really old one that belonged to a great-aunt. Nothing fancy about it at all, just a wooden handle and slightly yellow and very scratched lens.  )

[pegwellbayantiquities]

Fair play, i think this must have some age to it, the rings on the handle are silver and there is definate wear to the eye glass, difficult to show in photo's :/

[chopin-liszt]

You'd be better off flogging it on the basis of the silver and its hallmarks I would think, rather than the glass.

[Lustrousstone]

What are the marks on the silver?

[pegwellbayantiquities]

No marks on the silver but have had it tested at a jewellers, my first thought when i look at it springs to french design ... but whether that's to do with Inspector Clouseau and a magnifying glass stereotype i don't know .... lol! 

[chopin-liszt]

I've got a set of forks - solid silver, tested at a jewellers too (the same jewellers that made them - they're not hallmarked, but they do have A1 and the jewellers name on them). I tried another branch of the jewellers to ask them about their history and date, because I needed to speak to an older member of staff for that, but got told in no uncertain terms that they cannot be silver because they have no mark.     
I could only flog them as "white metal".
This sort of stuff is just a pain  and it needs cleaned.
I avoid from silver bits.

[glassobsessed]

Could it be a converted door handle? The way the center glass section is set seems a little odd.

John

[Paul S.]

Aren't I right in thinking that it's been illegal to manufacture - and sell as silver in the U.K. -  pieces without a hallmark ......for probably many centuries.........perhaps the Scots have different rules          I do know that, as a mark, A1 occurs frequently on EPNS, Sue, implying that the plating is first quality.

[Paul S.]

or............how about it's a converted knife rest