We do not usually offer items on other people's behalf, but an extended family member has acquired quite a bit of sterling Silver and plate. Knowing that our family runs a website where we are finding new homes for the masses of things we have collected over many many years, these extended family members have asked if 'someone' may like to find new, appreciative homes for some of their items. Most are quite "ordinary", some a little strange and yet others are steeped in mystery - this fork falls into the first category ... a well balanced, heavy 8" table fork in very nice condition (barely any usage or cleaning marks) but the heritage could not be confirmed.
ABBES - Table Fork (1) Only
Trade Name: ABBES
Extensive research drew blanks quite frankly. ABBES REG. refers to the registered trademark but who the manufacturer was is a mystery. Not to be confused with another reasonably common stamping, ABBESS. Google AI was not a lot of help, image and text searches came up with numerous results, some just ludicrious and nothing specific that made any sense (never ever trust AI - replacing humans? Humbug!!!) The ABBES tableware appears to have been sold all over the world with people in USA, England, South Africa and Australia all offering examples of Silver Plate with this stamping.
Circa 1950's ~ 1960's
Materials: Silver plated Nickel
Stamped into the rear of the fork is EPNS A1 (A1 indicating a higher grading of plating)
Pattern: Quite a plain design with no substantial features.
Length is 8 inches
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Clean
NO bending to the handle or prongs
NO physical damage at all
NO significant scratching observed, the fork "feels" of a quality build (I have held quite a bit of Grosveor lately and the feeling is similar) and I did read somewhere that ABBES were often used in the hotel industry, a tough environment, although this fork doesn't look to have had a tough life as evidenced by the very nice finish to the plating, devoid of any substantial scratches or cleaning marks.
I have now packed this fork into a sealed clear plastic packet to reduce the tarnishing of the Silver which will occur slowly over time due to interaction with the environment.
