Silver platter

[BeerBelly]

Hey everyone,
I bought a silver platter at a pawn shop, and was wondering if anyone knows what the silver content is. The platter is roughly 15 inches diameter, 1.5 inches deep. It is engraved on the back, (someones 25th aniversary?) and the only other marking I could find was in small print, it says "Countess". Underneath that there is a crown. Inside the crown it says "I.S." (international silver). Underneath the crown it says "International Silver Company". It's not magnetic.
That is all I can find on it. It doesn't look like pure silver, too shiny. I'm just curious whether it's worth keeping, it was kind of an impulse thing. I paid $35.00 for it.
I'm going to try and google it, just wanted to put it up here first, as my internet connection comes and goes. (Goes more than comes, by the way.)
Thanks in advance!

 

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[Angelo]

There's some stuff on ebay.

http://shop.ebay.com/sis/_W0QQ_kwZInternationalQ20SilverQ20SilverplateQ20VanityQ20Tray

Tony

 

[BeerBelly]

Thanks Angelo,
I looked on ebay but couldn't find anything quite like it. All I've been able to find so far is that International Silver Company started back in the late 1800's, and Countess is the design on the tray or platter. I'll try to post a pic later. I'm almost certain It's silver plated, how can I tell for sure?

 

[BeerBelly]

Thanks justgeese,
if you look at the pic Tony (Angelo) provided, I have the same stamp on the back of my platter, minus the number's below the crown. Are you saying the "I.S." inside the crown in Tony's pic stands for inlaid silver, as opposed to international silver?

 

[dg39]

Thanks justgeese,
if you look at the pic Tony (Angelo) provided, I have the same stamp on the back of my platter, minus the number's below the crown. Are you saying the "I.S." inside the crown in Tony's pic stands for inlaid silver, as opposed to international silver?

IS---is the company. International Silver Company. Normally Silver plate over copper or some other alloy.
DG

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks justgeese,
if you look at the pic Tony (Angelo) provided, I have the same stamp on the back of my platter, minus the number's below the crown. Are you saying the "I.S." inside the crown in Tony's pic stands for inlaid silver, as opposed to international silver?

IS---is the company. International Silver Company. Normally Silver plate over copper or some other alloy.
DG

Does that mean that the piece of Roger's Bros. in the pic was made by International? Also notice it say's stainless.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_inlaid_silver_considered_sterling_silver
http://www.cyberattic.com/stores/sandridgefarm/items/680864/en2cyberattic.html

Here are some of the silver marks for International Silver Company, Meriden, Connecticut, a conglomerate of many companies. http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_I.html

Roger Bros Inlaid silver is "stainless." maybe it doesnt stain.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Here is another IS mark.

 

[BeerBelly]

Thanks for the replies and the links.
There definitely is not a mark that indicates the silver quality on this piece. It only has the makers mark. (The crown that is on Tony's pic). There are no other marks or numbers anywhere, except for the name of the husband and wife it was made for, and the words "25th aniversary". Unless someone has anything else to add, I'm going to assume it's silver plated.
I may give it to my wife, it's certainly a nice looking piece, or I might take it back to the shop and return it.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks for the replies and the links.
There definitely is not a mark that indicates the silver quality on this piece. It only has the makers mark. (The crown that is on Tony's pic). There are no other marks or numbers anywhere, except for the name of the husband and wife it was made for, and the words "25th aniversary". Unless someone has anything else to add, I'm going to assume it's silver plated.
I may give it to my wife, it's certainly a nice looking piece, or I might take it back to the shop and return it.
Thanks for the help!

I understand what you are saying, but the "IS", in the crown above International Silver, looks like the same inlaid marks on the flatware.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Maybe DG can clear this up, it is confusing to me. Here is a bowl for sale claiming to be Sterling with the same markings. I would think it would say Sterling if it is. http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5119178
Did the seller claim it was sterling silver?

 

[BeerBelly]

I agree, it's very confusing!
The mark you mentioned for that bowl looks exactly like whats on my platter, except for the numbers underneath. Mine has no numbers.

The seller said it was silver, but didn't say thepurity or anything regarding that. I spoke to a saleswoman who in turn went into the office to ask the manager my questions. I didn't want to get into that, don't trust sellers word generaly anyway, so I gave up the questions and decided (after clarifying the return policy) to do my own research.
It does seem to have a slightly brassy hue to it here and there. I'm thinking it's either plated or a real low silver content alloy? I'm still waiting for my wife to take a pic of it, I don't have a camera, and don't want to learn how to use my wifes digital camera, so I'm at her mercy right now!

 

[BeerBelly]

Here are some pics, my wife tried to get a pic of the makers mark on the back but it didn't show up in the pic.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

A large platter. My gut feeling is that "IS" means "inlaid silver" (heavy plating). The best way to tell would be a silver nitric acid/potassium dichromate test solution.

 

[dg39]

A large platter. My gut feeling is that "IS" means "inlaid silver" (heavy plating). The best way to tell would be a silver nitric acid/potassium dichromate test solution.

Close enough. That platter is SILVER PLATE...I have seen that one before...90% of silver or sterling is very definitely marked .925 or sterling or sterling silver...Most of the items like the platter above are silver over copper or silver over a base metal mix. I never gave much attention to the IS mark as normally when I saw it it meant silver plate in my mind. I had always heard the expression, international silver...Have no idea where I got that...Never really dealt too much in Sterling or plate as it was a slow seller..I do have some coin silver and plate right now,that has the monogram H.H. on it. Belonged to some German guy that was head of the SS. back in WW-2....But most people find that spooky when they see it...
DG

 

[BeerBelly]

Thanks DG, I'm gonna go with that then.
Thanks for all the responses!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks DG, I'm gonna go with that then.
Thanks for all the responses!

I agree with DG.

Unless you like it, I would return it. It has no silver value.