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




P.& B.H and P.& B.L into an oval
French silverplate maker: Picard & Bazin-Levallois French silverplate maker: Picard & Bazin-Levallois Picard & Bazin-Levallois, successors to Mauger-Daniel
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)
French silverplate maker: ST HILAIRE, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis, 1st quality French silverplate maker: ST HILAIRE, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis, 2nd quality French silverplate maker: ST HILAIRE, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis, 2nd quality 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
French solid silver hallmark maker Orfèvrerie Produx Saint Hilaire French silverplate maker: ST HILAIRE, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis
PAX LABOR
French silverplate maker: not identified PAX LABOR Maker not identified
PB (or Sté PB) and a cross (or a dagger) / une croix (ou un poignard)
French silverplate maker: Pichard-Balme French silverplate maker: Pichard-Balme French silverplate maker: Pichard-Balme Pichard-Balme, Saumur, active from 1844
French silverplate maker: Pichard-Balme French silverplate maker: Pichard-Balme
PB and a hammer / un marteau
French silverplate maker: Paul Boyer Paul Boyer, 37/39 Passage st Sébastien, Paris, active from 1935
PB and a hammer / un marteau
French silverplate maker: Bognon Pierre Bognon Pierre, 7 rue de Saint Sébastien, Paris, active 1921-1925
PD or DD interwined and a spoon / une cuillère
French silverplate maker: Devouge Pierre French silverplate maker: Devouge Pierre French silverplate maker: Devouge Pierre French silverplate maker: Devouge & Dupont Devouge Pierre / Devouge & Dupont, 8bis rue Fontaine-au-Roi, Paris, factory at Hirson (Aisne), active from 1922
French silverplate maker: Devouge & Dupont French silverplate maker: Devouge & Dupont
PE MA J around a star / autour d'une étoile
French silverplate maker not identified PP. Maker not identified
PG and a helmet / un casque
French silverplate maker: Guillaumot Paul-François Guillaumot Paul-François, 40 galerie Montpensier, Paris, active from 1907
PG and a rake / un rateu
French silverplate maker: Gigon Paul Gigon Paul, 38 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active from 1912
PHENIX
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Phénix Orfèvrerie Phénix, Lyon, active first third of 20th century



PM and a symbol (a ram's head?) / un symbole (une tête de bélier?)
French silverplate maker: Meurgey Pierre French silverplate maker: Meurgey Pierre French silverplate maker: Meurgey Pierre Meurgey Pierre, 20 passage Saint-Sébastien, Paris, active 1929-present
PM and a windmill / un moulin
French silverplate maker: Morel Paul French silverplate maker: Morel Paul Morel Paul, 44bis Boulevard Richard-Lenois, Paris and rue Paul Bert, Saint-Ouen (factory), active c.1913. Successors to Maison N. Bourgeois
P MASSAT and a lyre with a point on each side / une lyre avec un point de chaque côté
French silverplate maker: Massat Frères Massat Frères, 15 rue Crussol, Paris, active 1885-1910. Succeeded to Paul Massat, 1877-1885
PP and a lozenge / un losange
French silverplate maker Comptoir Paris Province French silverplate maker Comptoir Paris Province Comptoir Paris Province, 8 rue Charlot, Paris, active from 1933
PS and a symbol / un symbole
French silverplate maker: Pernot & Semin Pernot & Semin, Paris, late 19th century
PT and a bird's nest / un nid d'oiseau
French silverplate maker: Tosany Paul Tosany Paul, 51 rue Hermel, Paris, from 1922


R&Cie and a clover / un trèfle
French silverplate maker: Ravinet & Cie French silverplate maker: Ravinet & Cie 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
RD and a clover / un trèfle
French silverplate maker: Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles French silverplate maker: Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles French silverplate maker: Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles French silverplate maker: Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles 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
RK and a winged elephant / un éléphant ailé
French silverplate maker: RENEKA French silverplate maker: RENEKA RENEKA, founded in 1927 by René Kauss, 3 Route des Romains, Strasbourg (Bas-Rhine)
RM and a star / une étoile
French silverplate maker: Roux - Marquiand - Lyon French silverplate maker: Roux - Marquiand - Lyon French silverplate maker: Roux - Marquiand - Lyon French silverplate maker: Roux - Marquiand - Lyon Roux - Marquiand, Lyon, from 1876
RM and a lamp / une lampe électrique
French silverplate maker: Marson Robert French silverplate maker: Marson Robert Marson Robert, 30 rue de Bondy, Paris, active from 1918
RR and a cross / une croix
French silverplate maker: Reysec Rodolphe Reysec Rodolphe, 187 rue du Temple, Paris, active c. 1922-1946. Related to Reysec & Varenne, active at the same address
RVP inside three shields into a circle / à l'intérieur de trois boucliers dans d'un cercle
French silverplate maker: Reysec & Varenne Reysec & Varenne, 187 rue du Temple, Paris, active c. 1922-1946. Related to Reysec Rodolphe, active at the same address


SA and a halberd / une hallebarde
French silverplate maker: Société Anonyme Argental French silverplate maker: Société Anonyme Argental French silverplate maker: Société Anonyme Argental 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
SF and four stars / quatre étoiles
SF above R / au-dessus de R
French silverplate maker: Saglier frères French silverplate maker: Saglier frères Saglier Frères, 12 rue d'Enghien, Paris, Eugène and André Saglier, succeeded to their father Victor Saglier, active from 1897
often accompanied by the mark VS of their father Victor Saglier
French silverplate maker: Saglier frères and Victor Saglier



S.F.A.M. and a handshake / une poignée de main ("poinçon de bonne foi" / good faith mark)
French silverplate maker: S.F.A.M. French silverplate maker: S.F.A.M. French silverplate maker: S.F.A.M. French silverplate maker: S.F.A.M. French silverplate maker: S.F.A.M. 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
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie de Chambly

The Orfèvrerie de Chambly maintained the figural trademark with the initials CM
SFOA a bee / une abeille or a stylized teapot / une théière stylisée
French silverplate maker: Société Francaise d'Orfèvrerie d'Art French silverplate maker: Société Francaise d'Orfèvrerie d'Art French silverplate maker: Société Francaise d'Orfèvrerie d'Art French silverplate maker: Société Francaise d'Orfèvrerie d'Art Société Francaise d'Orfèvrerie d'Art, 7 rue Crillon, Paris, active c. 1920. Often accompanied by ARGIT
SM and a palm / une palme
French silverplate maker: Mestrallet Sylvain French silverplate maker: Mestrallet Sylvain French silverplate maker: Mestrallet Sylvain Mestrallet Sylvain, active from 1906
SM and crest with bishop's crozier / écusson à crosse épiscopale
French silverplate maker: Orfévrerie St. Médard French silverplate maker: Orfévrerie St. Médard French silverplate maker: Orfévrerie St. Médard 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. Succeeded in 1982 by Société Saint-Médard SA.
SMF and fleur de lys
French silverplate maker: not identified Maker not identified
SO over G and a crown / une couronne
French silverplate maker: not identified Maker not identified
SNO around a crown / autour d'une couronne
French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Rex French silverplate maker: Orfèvrerie Rex Orfèvrerie Rex, 14 rues Crespin, Paris, active c. 1900
SOH
French silverplate maker: Societé d'Orfèvrerie Hotelière, SOH French silverplate maker: Societé d'Orfèvrerie Hotelière, SOH French silverplate maker: Societé d'Orfèvrerie Hotelière, SOH Societé d'Orfèvrerie Hotelière, SOH, Paris
SP and a caduceus / un caducée
French silverplate maker: Prud'homme Stéphane French silverplate maker: Prud'homme Stéphane Prud'homme Stéphane, rue Amelot, Paris. Succeeded in 1928 to Prud'homme Ernest


TA and a lion / un lion
French silverplate maker: Asésio Th. Asésio Th., Orfèvrerie du Lion, Paris, active c. 1900
TA ET FILS and a standing lion holding an oval / un lion debout tenant un ovale
French silverplate maker: Asesio Thomas et Fils French silverplate maker: Asesio Thomas et Fils Asesio Thomas et Fils 21 rue Compans, Paris, active from 1934
TD intertwined / imbriqués
French silverplate maker: Thèze, Deance & Cie (Crysor) Thèze, Deance & Cie (Crysor), 43-45 rue des solitaires, Paris, active c. 1900
T.Fres and a terra cotta casserole dish / une huguenote
French silverplate maker: Tétard Frères Tétard Frères, 4 rue Béranger, Paris, active from c.1903
TH a shamrock / un trèfle
French silverplate maker: Théodore Henry French silverplate maker: Théodore Henry Henry Théodore, 46 rue de la Folie-Méricourt, Paris, active 1870s/1880s


UDNER
French silverplate maker: Udner, Lyon Udner, Lyon


VDM and two crossed cutlery and a star / deux couverts croisés et une étoile
French silverplate maker not identified: VDM French silverplate maker not identified: VDM Maker not identified
VER DEL into a square / dans un carré
French silverplate maker: Vernot, Délean & Cie Vernot, Délean & Cie, 59 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active c. 1900
VEYRAT and two stars / deux étoiles
French silverplate maker: Veyrat Jean-François French silverplate maker: Veyrat Jean-François French silverplate maker: Veyrat Jean-François Veyrat Jean-François, Paris, active from 1815-1820 (fer plaqué / plated iron), 1820-1832 (cuivre plaqué / plated copper) and 1832-1840 (argent et métal plaqué). Succeeded by Veyrat et fils (1840-1849, in partnership with his son Adolphe Veyrat)
VH and a seated lion / un lion assis
French silverplate maker: Coutellerie de table Apollonox - Société Générale de Coutellerie et Orfèvrerie French silverplate maker: Coutellerie de table Apollonox - Société Générale de Coutellerie et Orfèvrerie French silverplate maker: Coutellerie de table Apollonox - Société Générale de Coutellerie et Orfèvrerie French silverplate maker: Coutellerie de table Apollonox - Société Générale de Coutellerie et Orfèvrerie French silverplate maker: Coutellerie de table Apollonox - Société Générale de Coutellerie et Orfèvrerie   Coutellerie de table Apollonox - Société Générale de Coutellerie et Orfèvrerie, factory located in Thier (Auvergne) with headquarters in rue Pastourelle, Paris and 26 rue Paul Bert, Saint-Ouen
VL and a sailing ship / un voilier
French silverplate maker not identified VL Maker not identified
VveD and a woman's head with helmet / une tête de femme avec un casque
French silverplate maker: Delaire V.ve French silverplate maker: Delaire V.ve Delaire V.ve, 94 boulevard Richard-Lenoir, Paris, active 1920/1928
WISKEMANN
silverplate maker: Wiskemann, Bruxelles, Belgium silverplate maker: Wiskemann, Bruxelles, Belgium silverplate maker: Wiskemann, Bruxelles, Belgium Wiskemann, Bruxelles, Belgium. Founded in 1872 by Otto-Léonard Wiskemann
FIGURAL MARKS
THREE-MASTED BOAT / BATEAU A TROIS MÂTS
French silverplate maker: Rouyer Rouyer, 8 rue de Bretagne, Paris, active c. 1900. Succeeded by V. Langrand (c.1921)
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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