Agura - Brazil 90-Grade Silver Plated Flatware
Flatware (Likely a Spoon or Fork handle) · Agura (Indústria de Baixelas Agura Ltda), a Brazilian manufacturer based in Curitiba, Paraná. They are known for producing silver-plated hollowware and flatware for domestic use and the hospitality industry.
Pattern: Streamlined Modernist Pattern; specific pattern name unknown, likely mid-century catalog production numbered.
Type
Flatware (Likely a Spoon or Fork handle)
Maker
Agura (Indústria de Baixelas Agura Ltda), a Brazilian manufacturer based in Curitiba, Paraná. They are known for producing silver-plated hollowware and flatware for domestic use and the hospitality industry.
Material
Silver Plated (Brazed/Base Metal). The '90' stamp indicates the thickness of the silver plating in microns or grams, following a European plating standard used in South America.
Dimensions
Estimated handle width 1.5 cm. Weight is consistent with nickel silver or brass-based plated flatware, feeling heavier than aluminum but lacking the distinct resonance of solid sterling.
Description
This is a functional piece of silver-plated flatware from the Brazilian firm Agura. It features a clean, industrial design characteristically found in 20th-century hotel or domestic service sets. The piece relies on its geometric grooved handle for visual interest rather than applied ornament, representing the transition to modern manufacturing.
Key Features
The '90' silver-plating stamp is the key diagnostic feature, distinguishing it from sterling silver (.925) or low-grade continental silver (.800).
Material & Composition
Silver Plated (Brazed/Base Metal). The '90' stamp indicates the thickness of the silver plating in microns or grams, following a European plating standard used in South America.
Finish & Decoration
Bright mirror polish finish with longitudinal grooved lines (striae) running down the handle. Design is minimalist, lacking ornate engraving or repoussé, typical of functional mid-century South American designs.
Hallmarks & Stamps
The stamp visible is 'Agura - 90'. 'Agura' is the brand/maker mark. '90' is the silver plating quality mark, indicating 90 grams of silver were used to plate a standard set of 24 pieces.
Construction Details
Die-struck and machine-stamped from a sheet of base metal, then electroplated. The crispness of the '90' indentation suggests industrial pneumatic stamping.
Functional Features
Tapered handle for ergonomic grip; the length of the visible section suggests a dinner spoon or dinner fork.
Handle & Grip Details
Integral handle construction where the handle and the functional head are one piece of metal. Features parallel recessed lines for aesthetic grip.
Craftsmanship Details
Machine-made industrial quality. The stamping is precise, but it lacks the hand-finishing or 'bolstered' weight found in high-end luxury silver or sterling pieces.
Authentication Indicators
The '90' mark is the primary indicator of its plated nature. In the context of Brazilian silver, the absence of 'Prata 925' or 'Sterling' confirm it as silver-plate (Banho de Prata).
Origin & Manufacturing
Brazil, likely Curitiba. Brazilian silversmithing in the mid-20th century moved from small workshops to industrial factories like Agura and Wolff to meet middle-class demand.
Era & Period
Mid-20th Century (1950-1970). The typography of the 'Agura' mark and the '90' plating standard are hallmarks of this period in Brazilian manufacturing.
Age Estimate
Circa 1960. The design language is consistent with the 'Modernista' movement that influenced Brazilian industrial design during the mid-century.
Cultural Significance
Represents the rise of the Brazilian industrial middle class and the adoption of European-style silver plating standards ('90' or '100' grade) for formal home dining.
Condition Notes
Very Good. The plating appears intact with no 'bleeding' (base metal showing through). There are light surface scuffs and tarnish consistent with regular use and storage.
Value Estimate
$5.00 - $15.00 USD per individual piece. Value is primarily functional or as a replacement piece for an existing set rather than for precious metal scrap.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with mild silver polish like Wright’s Silver Cream. Avoid abrasive pads which will strip the '90' micron plating. Store in a dry place to prevent pitting of the base metal.
Similar Pieces
Wolff (Brazil) Silver Plate, Eberle (Brazil) Stainless/Plated goods, and French Christofle (which also utilizes numerical plating marks but with different brand stamps).
Interesting Facts
Agura was one of several major Brazilian brands that helped establish the '90' standard as the mark of commercial quality in South American dining during the 1960s.