Cherub Contemplating a Scroll

Description

• Body: Heavy clear blown/molded glass with a rounded dome profile, thick walls, and a polished recessed well visible through the heavy base.
• Mounting & Lid: Fitted silver collar with a stippled (hammered/pebbled) texture. The hinged lid features a matching stippled ground surmounted by a figural finial.
• Finial Motif: A winged putto (cherub) seated with crossed legs, deeply focused on reading or examining an unrolled scroll held in its hands.

Hallmark & Maker Identification The rectangular cartouche on the underside of the lid contains three distinct Italian silver marks:

• Maker’s Name: GIARDINI (top line), referring to an Italian silversmith/manufacturing workshop.
• Origin/Registration Mark (bottom-left): The standard Italian post-1968 silversmith mark format—a polygon/lozenge enclosing a silversmith registration number, the five-pointed star symbol, and the two-letter Italian province abbreviation.
• Purity Mark (bottom-right): An oval enclosing 925, indicating solid sterling silver purity (.925 standard).

Origin & Date

• Country of Origin: Italy.
• Maker: Giardini (Italian silversmith).
• Date of Manufacture: Circa 1970s–late 20th century (post-1968, as evidenced by the modern Italian lozenge-and-star silversmith hallmark system alongside the standard 925 sterling oval punch).