HALLMARKS OF FRENCH SILVER
(FROM 1797 TO PRESENT DAYS)

created by Giorgio B. owner of
www.silvercollection.it ©
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versione italiana page d'accueil en francais
This is a page of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, a 1000 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
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 
French silverplate maker: Boulenger Adolphe FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS French silverplate maker: Frionnet Françoise

DIRECTORY BY INITIALS/SYMBOLS      DIRECTORY BY NAMES

MAKER'S MARK INITIAL: A - B     C - D     E - K     L - O     P - Z    

In 1791 in France the Fermes Générales (Silversmith Corporation) was abolished and the ancient duty collector (Jean-Francois Kalandrin) was requested to resume his activity.
But silver-workers were disorganized and without controls and avoided to present their works to the essay office so that Kalandrin preferred to abandon his task.

French Silver Marks from 1793 to 1798
not official hallmark 1793-1794
not official hallmark used by Silversmiths' Association (Association des Orfévres) 1793-1794 not official hallmark used by Silversmiths' Association (Association des Orfévres) 1793-1794
not official hallmark 1795-1797
not official hallmarks used by Silversmiths' Association (Association des Orfévres) 1795-1797
1st (left) and 2nd (right) standard
Paris 950/1000
first standard 1797
1st standard 1797 hallmarks 1st standard 1797
hallmarks until 19 June 1798
hallmarks until 19 June 1798
1st (left)- 2nd (center) - 3rd (right) standard
small objects hallmarks until 19 June 1798
hallmarks until 19 June 1798: small objects hallmarks until 19 June 1798 small objects

Only in 1797 a hallmarking system (with standard fineness 'per thousands') was reintroduced.

Loi du 19 Brumaire an VI (Law 9 November 1797)
French silver hallmarks from 19 June 1798 to 1st September 1809
Contremarque' (Grosse Recense):  Paris and Départements: large objects
'Contremarque' (Grosse Recense): Paris (left) and Départements (right) large objects
Contremarque' (Grosse Recense)  Paris Contremarque' (Grosse Recense)  Départements
Paris and Départements 950/1000
Paris (left) and Départements (right) 950/1000
Paris 950/1000 Paris 950/1000 Départements 950/1000
Paris and Départements 800/1000
Paris (left) and Départements (right) 800/1000
Paris 800/1000 Départements 800/1000
warranty Paris (85) and Departements (50 Haute-Marne)
Guaranty Paris (85) and Départements (50 Haute-Marne)
large objects (grosse garantie)
warranty Paris (85) warranty Departements warranty Departements
warranty Paris (85) medium objects warranty Département (25) medium objects
Guaranty Paris (85) and Départements (25 Eure Evreux)
medium objects (moyenne garantie)
warranty Paris (85) medium objects warranty Departements
Guaranty small objects (petite garantie) 1798-1809, Paris  and Départements
Guaranty small objects (petite garantie) 1798-1809, Paris and Départements (the same hallmark, faisceau avec listel)
Guaranty small objects (petite garantie) 1798-1809, Paris  and Départements
fineness not guaranteed Paris and Département<
"objets de hasard" Paris and Départements (the same hallmark)
fineness not guaranteed

ne garantit pas le titre Paris and Département
mark on imported silver
Imported silver Paris and Départements
large objects

mark on imported silver: large objects
mark on imported silver: small objects
Imported silver Paris and Départements
small objects

Loi du 11 Prairial an XI (Law 31 May 1803)
French silver hallmarks from 1 November 1809 until 1819
Contremarque' (Recense) 800/1000 Paris Contremarque' (Recense) 800/1000 Départements
'Contremarque' (Recense) silver 800/1000: Paris (left) and Départements (right) large objects
Contremarque' (Recense) 800/1000 Paris Contremarque' (Recense) 800/1000 Départements
Contremarque' (Recense) medium objects Paris and Départements
'Contremarque' (Recense): Paris (left) and Départements (right) medium objects
Contremarque' (Recense) medium objects Paris Contremarque' (Recense) medium objects Départements
Contremarque' (Recense) small objects Paris and Départements
'Contremarque' (Recense): Paris (left) and Départements (right) small objects
Contremarque' (Recense) small objects Paris Contremarque' (Recense) small objects Départements
Paris and Départements 950/1000
Paris (left) and Départements (right) 950/1000
Paris 950/1000 Départements 950/1000
Paris and Départements 800/1000
Paris (left) and Départements (right) 800/1000
Paris 800/1000 Départements 800/1000
Guaranty large objects Paris and Départements (34 Indre-Chateauroux)
Guaranty large objects Paris (left) and Départements (right) (34 Indre-Chateauroux)
Guaranty large objects Paris Guaranty large objects Départements
Guaranty medium objects Paris and Départements (34 Indre-Chateauroux)
Guaranty medium objects Paris (left) and Départements (right) (34 Indre-Chateauroux)
Moyenne garantie Paris Moyenne garantie Départements
Guaranty small objects (petite garantie), Paris, 1809 - 1819 Guaranty small objects (petite garantie), Départements, 1809 - 1819
Guaranty small objects (petite garantie), Paris (left, faisceau avec hache au milieu à gauche) and Départements (right, faisceau avec hache en haut à droite)
Guaranty small objects (petite garantie), Départements, 1809 - 1819
mark on imported silver; large objects mark on imported silver; small objects
Imported silver Paris and Départements
large objects (left) and small objects (right)

mark on imported silver: large objects and small objects
inventory mark Paris 1819: large objects inventory mark Paris 1819: small objects
Inventory mark (poinçon de recense) Paris 1819 (between August 16 and November 16): large objects, fleur de lys dans un cadre ovale (left) small objects, fleur de mouron dans un cadre à six lobes (right)
inventory mark Paris 1819: large objects inventory mark Paris 1819: small objects
inventory mark Paris 1819: large objects
Inventory mark (poinçon de recense) Départements 1819 (between August 16 and November 16): large objects, tête de levrette à droite dans a cadre ovale
Départements 1819: large objects
French silver hallmarks from 16 August 1819 to 10 May 1838
Paris and Départements 950/1000
Paris (left: "viellard" or "Michel-Angel") and Départements (right: "vieille femme") 950/1000
Paris 950/1000 Départements 950/1000
Paris and Départements 800/1000
Paris (left: "Raphaël") and Départements (right: "Socrate") 800/1000
Paris 800/1000 Départements 800/1000
Guaranty Paris large objects Guaranty Départements large objects  (34 Indre-Chateauroux)
Guaranty large objects (grosse Garantie) Paris (left: "Cérès") and Départements (right: "Hercule" into an oval)
Guaranty Paris large objects Guaranty Départements large objects Guaranty Départements large objects Guaranty Départements large objects Guaranty Départements large objects Guaranty Départements large objects
Guaranty Paris medium objects Guaranty Paris small objects
Paris: guaranty medium objects (moyenne garantie) (left: "Masque") and Paris small objects (petite garantie) (right: tête de lièvre)
Guaranty Paris medium objects Guaranty Paris small objects
Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons & 'régionaux' petite garantie)
Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons "régionaux" petite garantie)
RÉGIONS: 1st Nord/North, un papillon/a butterfly - 2nd Nord-Est/North-East, une tortue/a turtle - 3rd Est/East, une coquille/a shell - 4th Sud-Est/South-East, un trombidion/a trombidion - 5th Sud/South, un poisson/a fish - 6th Sud-Ouest/South-West, une grenouille/a frog - 7th Ouest/West, un limaçon/a snail - 8th Nord-Ouest/North-West, une raie/a manta 9th Centre/Center, un cochon d'Inde/a guinea pig
Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie) Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie) Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie) Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie) Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie) Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie) Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie) Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie) Guaranty Regional marks small objects (poinçons 'régionaux' petite garantie)
inventory mark 1838: large objects inventory mark 1838: small objects
Inventory mark (poinçon de recense) 1835-1838: large objects (left) small objects (right)
inventory mark 1838: large objects
French silver hallmarks from 10 May 1838 until 1973
large objects fineness 950/1000 and 800/1000
large objects 950/1000 fineness (left: "Minerve casquée") and 800/1000 (right: "Minerve casquée")
large objects fineness 950/1000 large objects fineness 800/1000
small objects fineness 800/1000
small objects fineness 800/1000 (petite garantie), Paris, 1838-1984 (left, tête de sanglier) and Departments (right, crabe avec listel)
small objects fineness 800/1000 small objects fineness 800/1000, Departments
Hallmarks of imported and exported items
export marks 1840-1878, large objects, Paris and Départments export marks 1840-1878, small objects, Paris and Départments
export marks 1840-1878, large objects (tête de Mercure), Paris and Départments and small objects (droite)
export marks 1840-1878, large objects, Paris and Départments export marks 1840-1878, small objects, Paris and Départments
export marks after 1878, 1st title export marks after 1878, 2nd title export marks after 1878, small objects
export marks after 1878, large objects (tête de Mercure), 1st title (left), 2nd title (center), and small objects (droite)
export marks after 1878
import objects 800/1000 1838-1864 import objects 800/1000 1864-1893
imported objects 800/1000, 1838-1864 (left), from 1 July 1864 to 30 June 1893 and from July 1, 1893 to February 28, 1990 (charançon, right)
import objects 800/1000 1838-1864 imported objects 800/1000 from 1 July 1864 to 30 June 1893 imported objects 800/1000 from 1 July 1893 to 28 February 1990
imported objects without guaranty, Paris imported objects without guaranty, Départements
imported objects without guaranty 1864-1893 Paris (left) and Departements (right)
imported objects without guaranty, Paris
Paris, large objects imported Departements, large objects imported objects imported or of unknown origin
large imported objects, Paris (left) and Departements (center) 1819-1838
watches and objects imported or of unknown origin after 1893 (cygne, right)
large imported objects watches and objects imported or of unknown origin
French silver hallmarks 1973 - present
France: silver fineness 925/1000 after 1973
silver fineness 925/1000
large objects fineness 925/1000
the letter on the right identifies the period: A (1973-1982), B (1983-1992), C (1993-2002), D (2003-2013), E (2014-2023). Rule largely disapplied by French Assay Offices. In 2023, Paris uses the letter B and Lyon the letter D.
France: silver fineness 800/1000 after 1973
silver fineness 800/1000
large objects fineness 800/1000
France: silver fineness 800/1000 after 1994
silver fineness 800/1000 after 1994. This is the most common mark on silver jewelry, as it is punched by the maker (petite garantie)
silver fineness 800/1000 after 1994
France: silver fineness 999/1000
silver fineness 999/1000
France: import mark after 1984
import mark after 1893. A larger version was made in 1962

Bibliography: Les poincons francais des metaux precieux by Michael Fieggen (French hallmarks for precious metals).
The book is in French, with a page-by-page translation in English supplied with it. Published February 2024, it is the only book on French hallmarks currently in print.
Book: Les poincons francais des metaux precieux Order contact: bijouregional@gmail.com



Moskow hallmark St Petersburg hallmark official marks - legge 5 Febbraio 1935 Paris 1818/1838 hallmarkParis 1797/1809 hallmark London town mark Sheffield town mark German silver hallmark Hanau silver hallmark Austrian silver hallmark
Russia Italy France England  Germany  Hanau  Austria
Pelton Bros. Silver Plate Co. hallmarkRogers & Bro. - Waterbury CT hallmark Mappin & Webb hallmarkWalker & Hall hallmark Devices of Old Sheffiel Plate
American Silver Plate marks English Electroplate silver marks Old Sheffied Plate marks
Peter Charles Faberge mark Gorham Athenic hallmark International Silver Company mark Georg Jensen hallmark 1945-1951 Kirk & Son mark Meriden Britannia Company mark Reed & Barton mark Rogers Bros mark Tiffany hallmarks Towle Silversmiths mark Wallace Silversmiths mark Wiener Werkstatte monogram WMF hallmarks
Fabergé
Gorham
International Silver Co
Georg Jensen
Kirk Stieff
Meriden Britannia
Reed & Barton
Rogers
Tiffany & Co
Towle
Wallace
Wiener Werkstatte
WMF

This is a page of A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, a 1000 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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www.silvercollection.it
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