FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS
PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE
DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ |
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HOME PAGE
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FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS
DIRECTORY BY INITIALS/SYMBOLS DIRECTORY BY NAMES
MAKER'S MARK INITIAL: A - B
C - D
E - K
L - O
P - Z
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French solid silver is characterized by 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 plaqué", equivalent to British "Old Sheffield Plate", was a square or rectangular cartouche containing:
- the initials of the maker
- the word "DOUBLÉ" or "PLAQUÉ"
- the figure indicating the quantity of silver (optional)
The thickness of silver was indicated by a number followed by a small "E", "M" or "EM", as abbreviation of Dixième (Tenth). The number represented the percentage of silver relative to the base metal (higher numbers are indicative of the poorest quality of plating)
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From 1860, to differentiate the "métal plaqué" 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
(plating thickness is measured in Micrometers: a micron is one thousandth of a millimeter or 0.001mm).
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NUMBERS IN FRENCH SILVERPLATE
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The meaning of numbers in French silverplate marks has changed over time:
1797 - c. 1860
number accompanied by "E", "M" or "EM" (meaning Dixiéme / tenth) in the upper right corner. This number is the percentage of silver used to plate the copper ingot (plating was made using the system known in the UK as "Old Sheffield Plate")
c. 1860 - 1983
number alone or accompanied by "G" or "GR". This is the number of grams of silver used to plate a single item or a dozen of spoons or forks (referred to the process of silver electroplating which has supplanted the OSP system)
after 1983
"Roman" numbers I or II in a corner. This number identifies the first or second quality of "métal argenté". The quality of the plating is determined by the microns of silver present on the item (a micron is one thousandth of a millimeter or 0.001mm).
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DIRECTORY OF FRENCH SILVERPLATE MAKERS
INITIALS & SYMBOLS
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AB and a crescent and four stars
AC and a crowned cross of honor
AC and a lyre
AD and a woodcock
AD and a lion
AF and an anchor
AF and a half moon
AG and a bag
AL and a symbol
ALFENIDE and a goat
A.LOISEAU and a crowned cross of honor
AR and a wheel
ARDJ and a cross
AS and a ram's head
AU BON MARCHÉ
AB and a crescent and four stars
AC and a crowned cross of honor
AD and a woodcock
AD and a lion
AF and an anchor
AF and a half moon
AG and a bag
A.LOISEAU and a crowned cross of honor
AR and a wheel
ARDJ and a cross
AS and a ram's head
AU BON MARCHÉ
BAILLIER
B.B
BB
BB and a crown
CB and a grasshopper
CB and a press
CB and a sun
CC and a scale
CH and a goat
CH and a sun
CJ and an ox's head
CL and a child's head
CM and a handshake
C.O.P. and two stars
CP and a press
CS and a five leaf clover
CV and an ant
DC and a bear
DEBAIN and a phoenix and a star
DF or DFES and a rooster's head
DH and METAL BLANC
DR and a press
EB and an hourglass
EC Vve and a running rabbit
EH and a stirrup
EP and a pocket knife
FC and a crown
FELIX Fres
FF and a croissant
FF and a winged lion
FL and a crescent moon, an arrow, a star below
GALLIA and a rooster
GANDAIS and DOUBLÉ into a square
GB and a stool
GC and a sword
GD and a silversmith's hammer
GD and a press
GFL and a chisel
GG and a boxer
GG and a star
GM
H&Cie and a rosebud above, a star below the initials
HK and a grasshopper pierced by an arrow
HS and a rising sun
JB and a star over a lyre
JM and a gabion
K&Cie under a +, over a star
L and a seated lion
L&L and a crown
LA and a symbol
LC and two crossed cutlery
LCF under a crown, into an araldic shield
LF and a two interlaced L
LL and a crown over a star
LR and crossed spoon and forks over a star
LS and a hunting horn
LUTETIA
MB and a symbol
MD and an anvil
N&A and a crank
O and an oil lamp
OAM and a tree
OC and a chess horse
OE and a centaur
OE and LUTETIA into a crowned shield
OL and a symbol
ORFÈVRERIE GALLIA and a rooster within a shield
PA and the head of an Egyptian pharaoh
PB (or Sté PB) and a cross (or a dagger)
PD and a spoon
PG and a helmet
PG and a rake
PHENIX
PM and a symbol
P MASSAT and a lyre with a point on each side
PS and a symbol
PT and a bird's nest
R&Cie and a clover
RD and a clover
RK and a winged elephant
RM and a star
RM and a lamp
SA and a halberd
SF and four stars
S.F.A.M. and a handshake
SM
SMF and fleur de lys
SO over G and a crown
SOH
SP and a caduceus
TA into a shield and a rampant lion
T.Fres and a terra cotta casserole dish
TH a shamrock
UDNER
VDM and two crossed cutlery and a star
VEYRAT and two stars
VH and a seated lion
VL and a sailing ship
DIRECTORY OF FRENCH SILVERPLATE MAKERS
NAMES
Alfenide
Apollonox Coutellerie de table
ArgentalSociété Anonyme
Au Bon Marché
Auzolle Léopold
Balaine C.
Barra (Maison)
Boin - Taburet
Boulenger Adolphe
Boyron Claudius Louis
Brille J.
Cailar & Bayard
Cailar & Henry
Caploun André
Capmartin Dominique
Cardeilhac Amélie
Carpentier Gustave fils
Chéron Félix
Christofle
Compère Léontine Veuve
Coutellerie de table Apollonox
Crossard Joseph
Debain Alphonse
Debain Alphonse & Edouard
Derivry Auguste
Deschamps Frères
Devouge Pierre
Durousseau G.
Durousseau & Raynaud
Ercuis (Orfèvrerie)
Félix Frères
Fouquet-Lapar George
Frenais Armand
Frionnet Albert
Frionnet François
Gallia
Gandais Jacques Augustin
Gay Gabriel & Cie
Giacobbi Georges
Gigon Paul
Grands Magasins du Louvre
Gudin Adolphe
Guillaumot Paul-François
Halphen Charles
Hénin & Cie
Henry Théodore
Hermès Emile
Julien Charles
Kahn & Compagnie
Kindberg Henry
Lamy & Lacroix
Le Couvert Francais
Lenain & Fils
Lenfant César
Levrat François
Loiseau A. & Cie
Lutetia
Lutetia
Maison Barra
Marson Robert
Massat Frères
Mégemond Joseph & Charles Deneux
Meurgey Pierre
Moucheront Jean
Noury Jules & Allain Edmond
Odiot (Maison)
Orfèvrerie Christofle
Orfèvrerie de Chambly
Orfèvrerie Ercuis
Orfèvrerie Gallia
Orfèvrerie Phénix
Orfévrerie St. Médard
Pernot & Semin
Perrin Claude Orfèvrerie
Phénix (Orfèvrerie)
Pichard-Balme
Pillet C.
Prud'homme Stéphane
Puiforcat Emile
Ravinet & Cie
Ravinet Louis
Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles
RENEKA
Roberge André
Roux - Marquiand
S.F.A.M.
Saglier Frères
Schooman Louis
Sicre Charles
Société Anonyme Argental
Societé d'Orfèvrerie Hotelière
Soufflot Henri
Soulat Auguste
ST HILAIRE
Tétard Frères
Tosany Paul
Udner
Veuve Léontine Compère
Veyrat Jean-François
DIRECTORY OF FRENCH SILVERPLATE MAKERS
NOT IDENTIFIED
Maker not identified AL
Maker not identified BAILLIER
Maker not identified B.B
Maker not identified BB
Maker not identified BB and a crown
Maker not identified CV
Maker not identified DH
Maker not identified EB
Maker not identified FF
Maker not identified GD
Maker not identified GM
Maker not identified LC
Maker not identified OAM
Maker not identified OG
Maker not identified OL
Maker not identified SMF
Maker not identified TA
Maker not identified VDM
Maker not identified VL
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FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS
DIRECTORY BY INITIALS/SYMBOLS DIRECTORY BY NAMES
MAKER'S MARK INITIAL: A - B
C - D
E - K
L - O
P - Z
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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 ...
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DIRECTORY OF FRENCH SILVERSMITHS HALLMARKS
