FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS
PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE
DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ |
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DIRECTORY OF FRENCH SILVERSMITHS HALLMARKS / REPERTOIRE DES ORFEVRES FRANCAIS |
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
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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
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Boulenger Adolphe, 4 rue du Vert-Bois, Paris, active 1876-1899 AB and a crescent and four stars/un croissant et quatre étoiles
Cardeilhac Amélie, 24 place Vendôme, Paris, active 1914-1920 AC and a crowned cross of honor/une croix d'honneur couronnée
Debain Alphonse, 79 rue du Temple, Paris, active 1883-1911 AD and a woodcock/une bécasse
Derivry Auguste, 52 rue de Bondy, Paris, active from 1923 AD 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 1877-1927 AF 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 1920-1922 AG and a bag/une bourse
Roberge André, 15 rue de Montmorency and 4 rue de l'Entrepôt, Paris, active 1918-1924 AR and a wheel/une roue
Crossard Joseph, 36 rue de Montmorency, Paris, active 1900-1920 ARDJ and a cross/une crosse (succeeded by Crossard & Dogit 1920-1931)
C. Balaine, Paris, active c. 1865 CB 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 1862-1867 CC and a scale/une échelle de poids
Halphen Charles, mark 1877-1885 CH and a goat/une chèvre
Cailar & Henry, Paris, active c. 1860 CH a sun/un soleil
Julien Charles, 59 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active from 1914 CJ 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 1876 CL and a child's head/une tête d'enfant
Orfèvrerie de Chambly, rename of S.F.A.M in 1983. Closed in 2004 CM and a a handshake/une poignée de main
Sicre Charles, 25 rue de la Villette, Paris, active 1899-1937 CS and a five leaf clover/une trèfle a cinq feuilles
Debain Alphonse & Edouard, 20 rue Rambuteau and later rue des Quatre-Fils, Paris, active 1911-1929 DEBAIN and a phoenix and a star/un phénix et une étoile
Deschamps Frères, 46 rue du Rocher, Paris, active from 1923 DF or DFES and a rooster's head/une tête de coq
maker not identified DH and METAL BLANC
Veuve Léontine Compère, 79 rue Quincampoix, Paris, widow of Ernest Compère (1868-1888) active 1888-1911 EC 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 silverwork EP 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 director FC and a crown/une couronne
Félix Frères, active in Toulouse in 1875 FELIX Fres
Frionnet François, 8 rue des Quatre-Fils, Paris, succeeded to Frionnet Albert in 1944 FF and a croissant/un croissant
maker not identified FF and a winged lion/un lion ailé
Gandais Jacques Augustin, active c.1834 GANDAIS and "DOUBLÉ" into a square
Fouquet-Lapar George, 25 rue de Choiseul, Paris, active 1897-1925. Succeeded to his father in law Leon Lapar GFL and a chisel/un ciseau d'orfèvre
Hénin & Cie, 77 rue des Archives, Paris, active from 1896. Succeeded to Hénin & Vivier H&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 1884-1910 HS 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 century JM and a gabion/un gabion
Kahn & Compagnie, 1156 faubourg Poissonnière, Paris, active late 19th/early 20th century K&Cie, under a +, over a star/un + et une étoile au-dessus
Le Couvert Francais LCF 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 1855 L and a seated lion/un lion assis
Auzolle Léopold, Paris, active 1885-1905 LA and a symbol/un symbole
Lenain & Fils, 16 rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris, 1920-1929 LF 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 Ercuis LUTETIA
Maison Barra MB and a symbol/un symbole
Joseph Mégemond & Charles Deneux, 3 passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, active 1863-1888 MD and an anvil/un enclume
Collet Noël, 68 rue Victor Hugo à Puteaux, active from 1922 NC and a cock/un coq
Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia collection OC 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 2006 PA 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 1907 PG and a helmet/un casque
Gigon Paul, 38 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active from 1912 PG and a rake/un rateu
Orfèvrerie Phénix, Lyon, active first third of 20th century PHENIX
Meurgey Pierre, Paris, active present days PM and a symbol/un symbole
Pernot & Semin, Paris, late 19th century PS 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 1984 R&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 1984 RD 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 1876 RM 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 Ercuis SA and a halberd/une hallebarde
Saglier Frères, 12 rue d'Enghien, Paris, Eugène and André Saglier, succeeded to their father Victor Saglier, active from 1897 SF 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 2004 S.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, France SM
Maker not identified SMF and fleur de lys
Societé d'Orfèvrerie Hotelière, SOH, Paris SOH
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.1903 T.Fres and a terra cotta casserole dish/une huguenote
Théodore Henry, 46 rue de la Folie-Méricourt, Paris, active 1870s/1880s TH 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
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