FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS
PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE
DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ -C - D- |
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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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FRENCH SILVERPLATE MAKERS
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Maker not identified, C&L and a comet / une comete
Collignon & Léger, 22 rue Oberkampf, Paris, active from 1918 C&L and two stars / deux étoiles
Balaine C., Paris, active c. 1865 CB and a grasshopper / une sauterelle
Boyron Claudius Louis, Lyon CB and a press / une presse

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
Charpentier CB and a symbol / un symbol
Christofle, mark 1862-1867 CC and a scale / une échelle de poids
Halphen Charles, 4 rue d'Hauteville, Paris, 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 handshake / une poignée de main
Orfèvrerie Claude Perrin, 132 rue de Turenne, Paris, active from 1923 C.O.P. and two stars / deux étoiles
Pillet C., Lyon CP and a press / une presse
Sicre Charles, 25 rue de la Villette, Paris, active 1899-1937 CS and a five leaf clover / une trèfle a cinq feuilles
Maker not identified, CV and an ant / une fourmi
Maker not identified, CY and a symbol / un symbole
Maker not identified DAM and a tree / un arbre
Capmartin Dominique, 117 rue de Turenne, Paris, active from 1910 DC and a bear / un ours
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
Société des Couverts DIXI, Varreddes, acxtive 1900-1984 DIXI COUVERTS and symbol (probably a dice)
Durousseau & Raynaud, Lyon DR and a press / une presse
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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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