Sterling Mark Identification please.

[spakey]

Can anyone help with identify this sterling silver mark?   A capital M E in a box.  No country of origin.  Also,  any guesses as to what this piece IS?  It measures approx. 5 1/2" long.  Perhaps a letter opener -( although the edges are not particularly sharp)?  There is either glass or a barely pink stone for the 'head' of the piece.  Thanks!5 1/2 long. Pointed tip.Back of torso which is1/2" thick.Maker's Mark

[Anonymous]

A fancy cuticle pusher (manicure tool)?

[patd3283]

Cheese pick???

[md1919]

could be an ink scraper (eraser).  no clue as to the maker

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

Your lovely piece (probably letter opener) was made by Max Eichhorn..Austria 1867-1922. He was a gold and silversmith. His makers mark is shown on your piece as correct.

[maxine*j]

Do you know why a piece made in Austria in the late-19th early-20th Century would be marked 'STERLING" rather than with the usual hallmarks you'd expect to see on European silver?   I don't know a lot about silver, so I have to ask.

From OP's piece:

[argon38]

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

Your lovely piece (probably letter opener) was made by Max Eichhorn..Austria 1867-1922. He was a gold and silversmith. His makers mark is shown on your piece as correct.

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Do you have a link/source for the information about Max Eichhorn?

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

Maxine Merlot, the maker Max E was from Austria, didn't spend a lot of time on this as I was too busy watching the riots unfold and getting sick to my stomach. He probably produced in America..I have to finish looking up this piece.

[argon38]

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

Maxine Merlot, the maker Max E was from Austria, didn't spend a lot of time on this as I was too busy watching the riots unfold and getting sick to my stomach. He probably produced in America..I have to finish looking up this piece.

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But the information you've already provided - about it being his mark, etc. - where is that from?

[maxine*j]

I see a Max Eichhorn listed here, but if there are photos of his mark I can't see them, even after disabling some security / privacy settings:

http://www.silvercollection.it/AUSTRIANEEE.html

Do you see photos?  Do they show mark(s) that match OP's?

[argon38]

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@maxine*j wrote:

I see a Max Eichhorn listed here, but if there are photos of his mark I can't see them, even after disabling some security / privacy settings:

http://www.silvercollection.it/AUSTRIANEEE.html

Do you see photos? 

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No.

[maxine*j]

I found this reference, too, but I know nothing about this site (which has several dead pages in it, though I finally go to this one), and it shows a drawing of the ME within a square -- but no photos of the actual mark and no other info:

https://www.langantiques.com/university/mark/eichhorn-max/

[argon38]

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@maxine*j wrote:

I found this reference, too, but I know nothing about this site (which has several dead pages in it, though I fnally go to this one), and it shows a drawing of the ME within a square -- but no photos of the actual mark and no other info:

https://www.langantiques.com/university/mark/eichhorn-max/

I wonder if that's the source that is being relied upon? To my mind, the information in the link is insufficient for a positive ID.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

Yes that's my go to site for quick references. I believe maybe ole Max probably apprenticed in America, hense the word Sterling under makers mark. That above website only shows a drawing of what each makers mark looks like not on an actual piece like OP. When you use that site you have to click on country your seeking info on..I did USA. I also use 925-1000.com to seek MM. Yes argon the silver hallmarks for England are very intense indeed..each symbol stands for something..like..before the queen after the queen the year of the queen...just kidding but once you get the hang of it it's really a precise way to determine dates and manufacturers. So with all that said let's all three put our fingers to work to find out bout ole Max..getting curious now..thanks guys!

[maxine*j]

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@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

Yes that's my go to site for quick references. I believe maybe ole Max probably apprenticed in America, hense the word Sterling under makers mark...

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You're not troubled by the fact that the M and the E mark pictured on that website is of two seperate block letters with a space between them, while the M and the E on OP's piece are joined, with the E falling below the M?  Distinctly different arrangement of the two letters, at least to my eye.

Anyhow, I don't see enough evidence to make me pursue the Max Eichhorn idea beyond the time I've spent so far, which has been a goodly amount, but I'll be interested in everything you learn.   As I said, I don't know a lot about silver.