PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ |
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created by Giorgio B. owner of www.silvercollection.it ©  |
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FRENCH SILVER HALLMARKS (FROM 1797 TO PRESENT DAYS)
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| DIRECTORY OF FRENCH SILVERSMITHS HALLMARKS / REPERTOIRE DES ORFEVRES FRANCAIS |
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French solid silver is characterized by a series of hallmarks and the presence of the maker's mark in a lozenge/diamond-shaped cartouche. On plated metal a square or rectangular cartouche is used for maker's mark. From 1797 the mark of the "métal plaquée", equivalent to British "Old Sheffield Plate", was a square or rectangular cartouche containing: - the initials of the maker - the word "DOUBLÉ" or "PLAQUÉE" - the figure indicating the quantity of silver (optional) |
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From 1860, to differentiate the "métal plaquée" from the "argenture par dépôt électrolytique", equivalent to British EPNS (Electro Plated Nickel Silver), were used square marks containing: - the initials of the maker and the figure indicating the quantity of silver |
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- the initials of the maker, a symbol and the figure indicating the quantity of silver |
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- the initials of the maker and a symbol accompanied by another cartouche containing the figure of the silver content |
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Sometimes they are accompanied by additional marks with the inscription "METAL" or "METAL BLANC" (WHITE METAL) |
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MÉTAL ARGENTÉ |
| To strengthen consumer protection, the French Parliament voted on July 1, 1983 a law which reformed the Guarantee and codified the conditions of silver hallmarking. In this context it was decided to measure the thickness of silver deposited on the entire surface and to institute minimum standard thicknesses for silverplate. The old mark expressed in grams, which is not compulsory, remains in use. Often it indicates silver weights greater than the new imposed standards. The new square hallmark (applicable from August 1984) therefore guarantees the thickness of the silver layer deposited on the item. The POINÇON CARRÉ is the official mark for "métal argenté". It is a square containing: - I or II, identifying the first or second quality of manufacture - a symbol identifying the maker - the initials of the maker 
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These are the requirements to be allowed to use the "POINÇON CARRÉ" mark and "métal argenté" denomination 
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FRENCH SILVERPLATE MAKERS |
Boulenger Adolphe, 4 rue du Vert-Bois, Paris, active 1876-1899AB and a crescent and four stars/un croissant et quatre étoiles 
Cardeilhac Amélie, 24 place Vendôme, Paris, active 1914-1920AC and a crowned cross of honor/une croix d'honneur couronnée 
Debain Alphonse, 79 rue du Temple, Paris, active 1883-1911AD and a woodcock/une bécasse 
Derivry Auguste, 52 rue de Bondy, Paris, active from 1923AD and a lion/un lion (the shaking hands is the "poinçon de bonne foi"/good faith mark) 
Frenais Armand, 77 boulevard Richard-Lenoir, Paris, active 1877-1927AF and an anchor/une ancre Succeeded to Franche & Frenais maintaining in early times the old mark next to the "anchor" mark 
Gudin Adolphe, 1 rue Castex, Paris, active 1920-1922AG and a bag/une bourse 
Roberge André, 15 rue de Montmorency and 4 rue de l'Entrepôt, Paris, active 1918-1924AR and a wheel/une roue 
Crossard Joseph, 36 rue de Montmorency, Paris, active 1900-1920ARDJ and a cross/une crosse (succeeded by Crossard & Dogit 1920-1931) 
C. Balaine, Paris, active c. 1865CB and a grasshopper/une sauterelle 
Cailar & Bayard, 37 rue Grange-aux-Belles, Paris, founded in 1848 by Noel Cailar and Pierre Bayard. The firm used the name METALLONIDE for its metal alloy. Cailar & Bayard closed in 1934.CB and a sun/un soleil
Christofle, mark 1862-1867CC and a scale/une échelle de poids
Halphen Charles, mark 1877-1885CH and a goat/une chèvre 
Cailar & Henry, Paris, active c. 1860CH a sun/un soleil
Julien Charles, 59 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active from 1914CJ and an ox's head, a star above the horns/une tête de boeuf, une étoile au-dessus des cornes 
Lenfant César, 20 rue des Deux-Portes-Saint-Sauveur, Paris, active from 1876CL and a child's head/une tête d'enfant 
Orfèvrerie de Chambly, rename of S.F.A.M in 1983. Closed in 2004CM and a a handshake/une poignée de main 
Sicre Charles, 25 rue de la Villette, Paris, active 1899-1937CS and a five leaf clover/une trèfle a cinq feuilles 
Debain Alphonse & Edouard, 20 rue Rambuteau and later rue des Quatre-Fils, Paris, active 1911-1929DEBAIN and a phoenix and a star/un phénix et une étoile 
Deschamps Frères, 46 rue du Rocher, Paris, active from 1923DF or DFES and a rooster's head/une tête de coq 
maker not identifiedDH and METAL BLANC 
Veuve Léontine Compère, 79 rue Quincampoix, Paris, widow of Ernest Compère (1868-1888) active 1888-1911EC Vve and a running rabbit/un lapin courant 
Puiforcat Emile, company founded in Paris in 1820 by Emile Puiforcat and his two cousins. Owes most of its renown to Jean Puiforcat (1897-1945), who established the company in the avant-garde of modern silverworkEP and a pocket knife/un couteau de poche 
Chéron Félix, factory active in Méry-sur-Oise (Seine-et-Oise, north of Paris). Founded by Félix Chéron, manufacturer of "Couverts de Méry" on its own base metal "Blanc Méry". Bought after bankrupt by Christofle in 1877 maintaining Cheron as directorFC and a crown/une couronne 
Félix Frères, active in Toulouse in 1875FELIX Fres 
Frionnet François, 8 rue des Quatre-Fils, Paris, succeeded to Frionnet Albert in 1944 FF and a croissant/un croissant 
maker not identifiedFF and a winged lion/un lion ailé 
Gandais Jacques Augustin, active c.1834GANDAIS and "DOUBLÉ" into a square 
Fouquet-Lapar George, 25 rue de Choiseul, Paris, active 1897-1925. Succeeded to his father in law Leon LaparGFL and a chisel/un ciseau d'orfèvre 
Hénin & Cie, 77 rue des Archives, Paris, active from 1896. Succeeded to Hénin & VivierH&Cie and a rosebud above, a star below the initials/un bouton de rose au-dessus, une étoile au-dessous des initiales 
Soufflot Henri, 89 rue de Turbigo, Paris, active from 1884-1910HS and a rising sun/un soleil levant 
J. Brille, 12 rue Debelleyme, Paris, a successor of Henry Brille (active c.1920s as Orbrille)JB and a star over a lyre/une étoile, une lyre au-dessus 
Moucheront Jean, 24 rue Beaubourg, Paris, active first quarter 20th centuryJM and a gabion/un gabion 
Kahn & Compagnie, 1156 faubourg Poissonnière, Paris, active late 19th/early 20th centuryK&Cie, under a +, over a star/un + et une étoile au-dessus 
 Le Couvert FrancaisLCF under a crown, into an araldic shield / sous une couronne, dans un bouclier araldique 
Grands Magasins du Louvre, rue de Marengo, Paris, a retail business active from 1855L and a seated lion/un lion assis 
Auzolle Léopold, Paris, active 1885-1905LA and a symbol/un symbole 
Lenain & Fils, 16 rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris, 1920-1929LF and a two interlaced L/deux L entrelacés 
Lamy & Lacroix, 40 rue Meslay (later 36, rue de Bondy), Paris. Partnership of Aimé Lamy (1819-1889) and Elie Lacroix, active 1858-1881. Parisian branch of Lamy & Lacroix, foundry in Morez, Jura. LL and a crown over a star/une couronne, une étoile au-dessus 
Ravinet Louis, (1854-1925), succeeded to E. Tonnelier in 1882. In 1891 entered in partnership with Charles D'Enfert (1865-1960) in a company under the style Ravinet D'Enfert (see mark RD).LR and crossed spoon and forks over a star/cuillère et fourchettes croisées sur une étoile 
Lutetia, a 1910s/1920s line of Orfèvrerie ErcuisLUTETIA 
Maison BarraMB and a symbol/un symbole 
Joseph Mégemond & Charles Deneux, 3 passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, active 1863-1888MD and an anvil/un enclume 
Collet Noël, 68 rue Victor Hugo à Puteaux, active from 1922NC and a cock/un coq 
Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia collectionOC and a chess horse/un cheval d'échecs
Orfèvrerie Ercuis, founded in 1867 by Adrien Céleste Pillon. From 2015 the company is under the control of the Italian group Sambonet Paderno
OE and a centaur/un centaure 
the new POINÇON CARRÉ adopted after 1983 by Orfèvrerie Ercuis to mark the "métal argenté" 
ST HILAIRE, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis after merging with Produx SA, registered by SOCIETE ERCUIS-PRODUX on 30 March 1988, 1st and 2nd quality "métal argenté". The Orfèvrerie Produx Saint Hilaire was a secondary establishment of Ercuis and closed 3 October 2006PA and the head of an Egyptian pharaoh/la tête d'un pharaon égyptien (a similar symbol was used for solid silver/argent massif hallmark. The PA stands, possibly, for Adrien Pillon, the founder of Ercuis 
Guillaumot Paul-François, 40 galerie Montpensier, Paris, active from 1907PG and a helmet/un casque 
Gigon Paul, 38 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active from 1912PG and a rake/un rateu 
Orfèvrerie Phénix, Lyon, active first third of 20th centuryPHENIX 
Meurgey Pierre, Paris, active present daysPM and a symbol/un symbole 
Pernot & Semin, Paris, late 19th centuryPS and a symbol/un symbole 
Ravinet & Cie, 83 rue du Temple, Paris, Succeeded in 1912 to Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles, followed in 1923 by Ravinet d'Enfert & Cie. The company closed activity in 1984R&Cie and a clover/un trèfle 
Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles, 83 rue du Temple, Paris, active 1891-1912. Succeeded by Ravinet & Cie and from 1923 by Ravinet d'Enfert & Cie. The company closed activity in 1984RD and a clover/un trèfle 
RENEKA, founded in 1927 by René Kauss, 3 Route des Romains, Strasbourg (Bas-Rhine)RK and a winged elephant/un éléphant ailé 
Roux - Marquiand, Lyon, from 1876RM and a star/une étoile 
Marson Robert, 30 rue de Bondy, Paris, active from 1918 RM and a lamp/une lampe électrique 
Société Anonyme Argental, 72, boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, active at "Usine de l'Argental" Coulommiers en Seine-et-Marne from 1921. The activity was bought in 1968 by Orfèvrerie ErcuisSA and a halberd/une hallebarde 
Saglier Frères, 12 rue d'Enghien, Paris, Eugène and André Saglier, succeeded to their father Victor Saglier, active from 1897SF and four stars/quatre étoiles often accompanied by the mark VS of their father Victor Saglier 
S.F.A.M., Société Française d'Alliage de Métaux, created in 1926 in Bornel, Oise region. Renamed Orfèvrerie de Chambly in 1983. Closed in 2004S.F.A.M. and a handshake/une poignée de main ("poinçon de bonne foi"/good faith mark)
The Orfèvrerie de Chambly maintained the figural trademark with the initials CM 
Orfévrerie St. Médard, Founded in 1898. Became the French branch of Belgian firm Eternum (founded 1924).
Saint Médard Eternum, 27 Rue Jules Raimu, Chambly, Picardie, FranceSM 
Maker not identifiedSMF and fleur de lys 
Societé d'Orfèvrerie Hotelière, SOH, ParisSOH 
Prud'homme Stéphane, rue Amelot, Paris. Succeeded in 1928 to Prud'homme Ernest SP and a caduceus/un caducée 
Tétard Frères, 4 rue Béranger, Paris, active from c.1903T.Fres and a terra cotta casserole dish/une huguenote 
Théodore Henry, 46 rue de la Folie-Méricourt, Paris, active 1870s/1880sTH a shamrock/un trèfle 
Coutellerie de table Apollonox - Société Générale de Coutellerie et Orfèvrerie, VH and a seated lion/un lion assis |
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This is a page of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, a 1500 pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, sheffield plate, electroplate silver, silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles, books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths (Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington, WMF, Reed & Barton, Mappin & Webb, Bateman Family), history, oddities ... SITE MAP SILVER DICTIONARY |
