Italian silver hallmarks
256 marks in our databaseBefore 1861 each Italian state marked its own silver. Since 1968 Italian silver carries a mark with a five-pointed star, the maker's registration number and the province code, beside the fineness, usually 800 or 925.
Modern Italian silver carries a star mark: a five-pointed star with a number for the maker and letters for the province, such as MI for Milan or FI for Florence, beside the standard, usually 800 or 925. The star identifies the maker through a national register, so the number and the province code matter as much as the standard.
How to read Italian marks
- Before 1861
- Each Italian state, and many cities, struck its own marks.
- Star mark
- Since 1968 a five-pointed star with the maker's registration number and the province code identifies the maker.
- Standards
- The fineness is stamped as a number, usually 800 or 925.
A note from our specialists
On Italian pieces, record the star mark exactly as struck: the number and the two letter province code. That pair is what identifies the maker. A standard number such as 800 on its own, with no star and no maker, is not enough to say where or by whom the piece was made.
Faustas Svencionis, Mozeris Fine Antiques
We hold 256 Italian marks for photo matching
Our identifier compares your photo with every Italian mark we hold, then reads the town, the standard, the date and the maker. Free, with the result on screen and by email.
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Questions
What does the star mark mean?
It identifies the maker: the number is the maker's registration and the letters are the province, for example FI for Florence.
What does 800 mean on Italian silver?
800 parts of silver in 1,000, a common standard for Italian silver.
What does the star mark mean on Italian silver?
It is the Italian maker's identification mark: a star with the maker's registered number and the province code. It appears beside the silver standard, usually 800 or 925.
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