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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: sassofalco on Friday 27 February 15 02:03 GMT (UK)
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This is a silver chalice with just the letters and date inscription of "V.A.S.I. 1895" engraved upon it. I am having a hard time trying to identify the origins and / or circumstances for the possession of a silver chalice. My Grandfather (d1954), a doctor, previously owned the item, and on his death it was passed on to his daughter, my Aunt. He was quite a successful athlete at around that time (1890s) and also very handy in shooting competitions. I must apologise for the somewhat inferior quality of the photos, and the fact that no hallmarks have been provided, and I suspect that a base of some sort is also missing. Grandfather attended Cantab for his MA and then continued with his Medical training at St Thomas's Hospital in London, where he qualified for his degree in general and surgery. I am at a complete loss in trying to identify this item.
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It may be a goblet, not a chalice.
V.A.S.I. stands for Visual Approach Slope Indicator which I'm sure is not appropriate in this case.
As he was a doctor who qualified in surgery, could the S.I. stand for Surgical Institute? A for Academy? America?
Did he have his FRCS from London? If he did, maybe the Royal College of Surgeons would have a clue about this?
Dawn M
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Maybe Latin S.I, Society of Jesus? V.A might just be the initials of the Jesuit owner.
Skoosh.
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Maybe a Volunteer Association shooting competition trophy. Those competitions were often covered in local newspapers. What was his name?
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It may be worth pointing out that the S is much more elaborate than the other letters, perhaps with a fish tail? Swimming?
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No idea just. Just shooting it back up the ladder :) ;)
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Did grandfather come from or emigrate to Australia, and if so, could the V be for Victoria? My reasons for this suggestion:
1. sassofalco (OP) is in Australia
2. I can't imagine any piece of silverware from a reputable UK source at that date not having a hallmark
I take it that that is what is meant by "the fact that no hallmarks have been provided". If there is a hallmark it would be of immense help to know what it is. If there isn't and it just says "Sterling Silver" or similar then it could be Australian - see http://925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html
Also, while some silver was shipped over from the UK, this page http://www.silvercollection.it/AUSTRALIASILVERSMITHSA.html suggests that presentation trophies would be more likely to be locally produced.
Arthur