FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS
PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE
DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ
-L - O-

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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)
French silverplate maker: Veyrat Jean-François French silverplate mark: doublé French silverplate mark: doublé French silverplate mark: plaqué


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
French silverplate mark: after 1860


- the initials of the maker, a symbol and the figure indicating the quantity of silver
French silverplate mark after 1860 French silverplate mark after 1860


- the initials of the maker and a symbol accompanied by another cartouche containing the figure of the silver content
French silverplate mark after 1860 French silverplate mark after 1860


Sometimes they are accompanied by additional marks with the inscription "METAL" or "METAL BLANC" (WHITE METAL)
French additional silverplate mark: METAL French additional silverplate mark: METAL BLANC




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
French silverplate mark: POINÇON CARRÉ French silverplate mark: POINÇON CARRÉ

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).
French silverplate mark: POINÇON CARRÉ, quality requirements in microns

NUMBERS IN FRENCH SILVERPLATE
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 millimetre or 0.001mm).

FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS

DIRECTORY BY INITIALS/SYMBOLS      DIRECTORY BY NAMES

MAKER'S MARK INITIAL: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z -

FRENCH SILVERPLATE MAKERS' MARKS



L and a seated lion / un lion assis
French silverplate maker: Grands Magasins du Louvre French silverplate maker: Grands Magasins du Louvre Grands Magasins du Louvre, rue de Marengo, Paris, a retail business active from 1855
L&S and an anchor / une ancre
French silverplate maker: not identified L&S Maker not identified
LA and a symbol / un symbole
French silverplate maker: Léopold Auzolle Auzolle Léopold, Paris, active 1885-1905
LC and two crossed cutlery / deux couverts croisés
French silverplate maker: not identified LC Maker not identified
LCF under a crown, into an araldic shield / sous une couronne, dans un bouclier araldique
French silverplate maker: Le Couvert Francais French silverplate maker: Le Couvert Francais French silverplate maker: Le Couvert Francais Le Couvert Francais
LEMAITRE & RIDOUX
French silverplate maker: Lemaitre & Ridoux French silverplate maker: Lemaitre & Ridoux Lemaitre & Ridoux, 18 boulevard Voltaire, Paris, founded in 1861
LF and a two interlaced L / deux L entrelacés
French silverplate maker: Grands Magasins du Louvre French silverplate maker: Grands Magasins du Louvre French silverplate maker: Grands Magasins du Louvre Lenain & Fils, 16 rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris, 1920-1929



LL and a crown over a star / une couronne, une étoile au-dessus
LL and a crown / une couronne
L&L and a crown / une couronne
French silverplate maker: Lamy & Lacroix French silverplate maker: Lamy & Lacroix French silverplate maker: Lamy & Lacroix French silverplate maker: Lamy & Lacroix 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 Vve and two crossed oars / deux rames en croix
French silverplate maker: Lambert Leonie Lambert Léonie, 187 rue du Temple, Paris active from 1904
successor to Lambert Léon (1881-1904)
LM and a three leaf clover with two stars / un trèfle à trois feuilles avec deux étoiles
French silverplate maker: Legros Marius Legros Marius, 16 rue du Pontaux Choux (1906) and 62 rue Charlot (1915), Paris
LMP into an oval
French silverplate maker: Lévy, Martin & Plainchault Lévy, Martin & Plainchault, 16 rue Pierre-Levée, Paris
LP and a horse's head / une tête de cheval
French silverplate maker: Philippe Alfred Philippe Louis, 112 rue du Temple, Paris, active c. 1926, succeeding to Alfred Philippe
LR and crossed spoon and forks over a star / cuillère et fourchettes croisées sur une étoile
French silverplate maker: Louis Ravinet French silverplate maker: Louis Ravinet 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 two palms, three stars above, four stars below / deux palmes, trois étoiles au-dessus, quatre étoiles en dessous
French silverplate maker: not identified LR Maker not identified (mark probably linked to Robert Louis)
LR and a wing, a palm, three stars above, four stars below / une aile, une palme, trois étoiles au-dessus, quatre étoiles en dessous
French silverplate maker: Robert Louis Robert Louis, 7 rue du Temple, Paris, active c. 1917
LS and a hunting horn / un cor de chasse
French silverplate maker: Schooman Louis Schooman Louis, 90 rue d'Angouléme and 9 impasse de la Baleine, Paris, active from 1921
LUTETIA
French silverplate maker: Lutetia, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis French silverplate maker: Lutetia, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis French silverplate maker: Lutetia, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis Lutetia, a 1910s/1920s line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis
LUX and two terrestrial globes and an anchor / deux globes terrestes et une ancre
French silverplate maker: Vuitton Louis Société Française d'Alliage de Métaux, 9 faubourg Poissonière, Paris. Factory at Bornet (Oise)
LV intertwined / entrelacés
French silverplate maker: Vuitton Louis Vuitton Louis, 70 Champs-Elysée, Paris


MANUFre FRANCse NICKEL PUR and a boar / un sanglier
French silverplate maker: Manufacture française de Nickel Massif Pur Manufacture française de Nickel Massif Pur
M B and a deer head / un tête de cerf
French silverplate maker: Bietrix Marc Bietrix Marc, 51 rue de Lafayette, Paris, active from 1946


MB and a symbol / un symbole
French silverplate maker: Maison Barra Maison Barra
MB radiant sun forming the O and capped by a moon / soleil rayonnant formant le O et coiffé d'une lune
M.F.B.O. into a sun / dans un soleil
French silverplate maker: Maison Bautz French silverplate maker: Manufacture Française d'Orfèvrerie Maison Bautz Maison Bautz
Manufacture Française d'Orfèvrerie Maison Bautz
, 3 rue de Portefoin, Paris, active c. 1900
M BARRÉ and a shamrock / un trefle
French silverplate maker: Barré Marcel Barré Marcel, 114 rue de Turenne, Paris, active 1919-after 1931
succeeded to Edmond Molle



MD and an anvil / un enclume
French silverplate maker: Joseph Mégemond & Charles Deneux Mégemond Joseph & Charles Deneux, 3 passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, active 1863-1888
M GOUAILLE and a star / M. Gouaille et une étoile
French silverplate maker: Gouaille Maurice Gouaille Maurice, 13 rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth, Paris, active after 1922
MINERVA and head of Minerva into a shield / tête de Minerve dans un blason
French silverplate maker: Société Française du Métal Minerva Clair & Cie French silverplate maker: Société Française du Métal Minerva Clair & Cie French silverplate maker: Société Française du Métal Minerva Clair & Cie Société Française du Métal Minerva Clair & Cie
Lager E.P. Manufacture d'Orfèvrerie Metal-Blanc

ML and a daisy / une marguerite
French silverplate maker: Lesage Marc Lesage Marc, 25 rue Michel-le-Comte, Paris, active from 1920
MM and an ear / une oreille
French silverplate maker: not identified MM Maker not identified
MPR and a sword, two anchors and sacred heart / une épée, deux ancres et un coeur sacré
French silverplate maker: Poussielgue Rusand Maurice Poussielgue Rusand Maurice , (1861-1933). Owner of Maison Poussielgue Rusand Fils, 5 rue Cassette, Paris, the company was active until 1963


N&A and a crank / un tour
French silverplate maker: Noury Jules & Allain Edmond Noury Jules & Allain Edmond, 10 and 14 rue de Oberkampf, Paris, active from 1921
N&C and a bee / une abeille
French silverplate maker: Nivard & Couillard Nivard & Couillard, 102 rue de St.Lazarre (Caurier, agent), Paris and Sourdeval, Manche, Basse-Normandie (factory). Active c. 1900
NB and a windmill / un moulin à vent
French silverplate maker: Bourgeois Nicolas Bourgeois Nicolas, 37 rue Volta, Paris, active c. 1900
NC and a cock and three stars / un coq et trois étoiles
French silverplate maker: Collet Noël French silverplate maker: Collet Noël French silverplate maker: Collet Noël Collet Noël, 68 rue Victor Hugo à Puteaux, active c.1922
French silverplate poinçon carré: maker Collet Noël

POINÇON CARRÉ adopted after 1983



O and an oil lamp / une lampe
French silverplate maker: Maison Odiot French silverplate maker: Maison Odiot Maison Odiot, Paris, founded in 1690
O and an oil lamp / une lampe

OB and a five-pointed star in a triangle / une étoile à cinq branches dans a triangle
French silverplate maker: Orfévrerie Brossier Léon Orfévrerie Brossier Léon, 86 rue des Archives, Paris, active c. 1903
Successors of Maison Brunet, founded 1840
OC and a rising sun over a star / un soleil levant, une étoile au dessou
French silverplate maker: Olier & Caron Olier & Caron, 39 rue de Turbigo, Paris, active c. 1910-1936
OC and a chess horse / un cheval d'échecs
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia collection French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia collection French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia collection French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia/Gombault Desclerc collection Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia collection
The "crown mark" (couronne) might correspond to the collection Gombault Desclerc acquired by Halphen and returned to Christofle with the acquisition of Halphen by Christofle. The "crown mark" was used from 1939 to 1960 (information courtesy Katharina Becker).
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Christofle 1935-1983 French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Christofle after 1983

OE and a centaur / un centaure
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Ercuis French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Ercuis French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Ercuis French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Ercuis French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Ercuis Orfèvrerie Ercuis, founded in 1867 by Adrien Céleste Pillon. From 2015 the company is under the control of the Italian group Sambonet Paderno
the new POINÇON CARRÉ adopted after 1983 by Orfèvrerie Ercuis to mark the 'métal argenté'
the new POINÇON CARRÉ adopted after 1983 by Orfèvrerie Ercuis to mark the "métal argenté"

OE and LUTETIA into a crowned shield / LUTETIA en écu couronné
French silverplate maker: Lutetia, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis French silverplate maker: Lutetia, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis Lutetia, a 1910s/1920s line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis

OL and statue of liberty or a symbol / statue de la Liberté ou un symbole
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Liberty French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Liberty Orfèvrerie Liberty, 2 Rue de l'Orgerie, Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne, active 1928 - present

OP and a pot and a horseshoe / un pot et un fer à cheval
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Pot fer Orfèvrerie Pot fer, 16 rue de Crussol, Paris, active from 1944
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Pot fer
ORFÈVRERIE GALLIA and a rooster within a shield / un coq dans un bouclier
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Gallia Orfèvrerie Gallia a trade mark of Christofle
ORVAL inside a square / à l'intérieur d'un carré
French silverplate maker: not identified ORVAL maker not identified
FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS

DIRECTORY BY INITIALS/SYMBOLS      DIRECTORY BY NAMES

MAKER'S MARK INITIAL: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z -

DIRECTORY OF FRENCH SILVERSMITHS HALLMARKS
REPERTOIRE DES ORFEVRES FRANCAIS

 AA      AH      B      CA      CG      D      EA      EJ      F      GA      GH      HA      HG      I      JA      JH      K      LA      LH      MA      MH      N      O      PA      PH      Q      R      S      T      U      V      W      X      Y      Z 


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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