PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ -E - K- |
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created by Giorgio B. owner of www.silvercollection.it ©  |
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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 |
| 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 |
| 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). |
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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 |
 EB and an hourglass / un sablier 
Maker not identified
EC L and a wreath / une gerbe 
Chauvin & Lacombe, 8 rue de Braque, Paris, active c. 1920
EC Vve and a running rabbit / un lapin courant 
Veuve Léontine Compère, 79 rue Quincampoix, Paris, widow of Ernest Compère (1868-1888) active 1888-1911
EH and a stirrup / un ètrier 
Hermès Emile, 21 rue Boissy d'Anglas, Paris, active from 1922
EP and a pocket knife / un couteau de poche 
Puiforcat Emile, company founded in Paris in 1820 by Emile Puiforcat and his two cousins. Owes most of its renown to Jean Puiforcat (1897-1945), who established the company in the avant-garde of modern silverwork
E PROST and a fork / une fourchette 
Prost Ernest, 68 quai des Orfévres, Paris, active c.1913. Successor to Laigniez-Sollier "A la gerbe d'or"
E.V. METAL or ARGENTA into a shield and a lion / dans un blason et un lion 
Varet E., 5 rue des Haudriettes, Paris, active c. 1900
 FC and a crown / une couronne 
Chéron Félix, factory active in Méry-sur-Oise (Seine-et-Oise, north of Paris). Founded by Félix Chéron, manufacturer of "Couverts de Méry" on its own base metal "Blanc Méry". Bought after bankrupt by Christofle in 1877 maintaining Cheron as director
FELIX Fres FELIX FRERES 
Félix Frères, 1 rue Alsace, Toulouse, active c. 1875
FF and a croissant / un croissant 
Frionnet François, 8 rue des Quatre-Fils, Paris, succeeded to Frionnet Albert in 1944
FF and a winged lion / un lion ailé 
Maker not identified
FF sorrounding a mallet / entourant un maillet 
Maker not identified
FL and a crescent moon, an arrow, a star below / un croissant de lune, une flèche, une étoile en dessous 
Levrat François, Paris, active from 1811
F.N and a six pointed star in a sun / une étoile à six branches dans un soleil 
Nicolle Fred., 175 rue du Temple, Paris, active c. 1900
FONTALIRANT and a crescent under a star / un croissant horizontal surmonté d'une étoile 
Fontalirant A.,
 GALLIA and a rooster / un coq 
Gallia a trade mark of Christofle
G (Gothic) into a crowned shield / dans un écu couronné 
Gombault, Gombault & F. Chéron, 66 rue du Marais, Paris GC and a hammer / un marteau Maison Vve Ch. Halphen Desclercs successors of Gombault & Cheron. The Gombault mark was used on "maillechort extra blanc non argenté". Both were part of Manufacture de l'Alfenide GANDAIS and "DOUBLÉ" into a square 
Gandais Jacques Augustin, active c.1834
GB and a stool / un tabouret 
Boin - Taburet, 3 rue Pasquier, Paris, active c. 1900
GB and a dog into a square / un chien dans un carré 
Benoît Georges, 5 rue du Perche, Paris, active from 1922
GC and a sword / une épée 
Carpentier Gustave fils, 40 quai Jemmapes, Paris, active from 1922
GC and a cross of Lorraine / une croix double de Lorraine 
Chevalier Gustave, 3 rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth, Paris, active from 1886
GD and a silversmith's hammer / un marteau d'orfèvre 
Maker not identified
G.D. and a symbol / une simbole 
Maker not identified
GFres and crossed hammer and brush over a star / un marteau et brosse croisée surmontant une étoile 
Gonthier Jeune & Cie, factory in Amiens
GD or GR and a cup flanked by two dolphins / une coupe flanquée de deux dauphins 
Cavy, Successors to Gallonde & Renou
GD and a press / une presse 
Durousseau G. (possibly), Lyon, possible predecessor of Durousseau & Raynaud
GD and a star / une étoile 
Delpech Gaston, 8 rue Pastourelle, Paris, active c. 1919
GFL and a chisel / un ciseau d'orfèvre 
Fouquet-Lapar George, 25 rue de Choiseul, Paris, active 1897-1925. Succeeded to his father in law Leon Lapar
GG and a boxer / un boxeur 
Gay Gabriel & Cie, Grenoble
GG and a star / une étoile 
Giacobbi Georges, 38 rue des Blancs Manteaux, Paris, active from 1919
GM 
Maker not identified
G.R. and an eagle / un aigle 
Maker not identified
GR and a winged helmet / un casque ailé 
Maker not identified
GR and an engraver tool with a star / un boulet de graveur surmonté d'une étoile 
Rocher Georges, 31 rue de Debelleyme, Paris, active 1920-1924
 H&Cie and a rosebud above, a star below the initials / un bouton de rose au-dessus, une étoile au-dessous des initiales 
Hénin & Cie, 77 rue des Archives, Paris, active from 1896. Succeeded to Hénin & Vivier
H.B and a bird / un oiseau 
Babarit Henri, 8 Boulevard des Italiens and 96 rue de Rivoli (Au Cadran Lumineux), Paris, active c. 1900Factory at Villers-le-Lac, Doubs H.Fres and a flower / un fleur à 9 pétals 
Hauser Frères, 153 rue Parmentier, Paris, active c. 1900
HK and a grasshopper pierced by an arrow / une sauterelle transpercée d'une flèche 
Kindberg Henry, Paris, active 1824-1838
HL and an olive branch / une branche d'olivier 
Landenwetsch Henri, 37 rue du Chemin Vert, Paris, active c. 1904
HL and a windmill / un moulin à vent 
Legrand Homère, 21 rue d'Amiette à Sannois, Paris, active c. 1923
HS and a rising sun / un soleil levant 
Soufflot Henri, 89 rue de Turbigo, Paris, active from 1884-1910
 IM AM and a mallet / un maillet 
Mailhan & Mailhan (possibly)
 J & Cie and a bird (jay) / un geai 
Jaymes & Cie, 14 rue Charlot, Paris, active c. 1920
JA and an arrow / une flèche 
Allard Philippe Joseph , orfèvre, banquier, directeur de la Monnaie - Bruxelles 1804-1877
JACQUIN and two opposite heads / deux têtes opposées 
Jacquin Alf.
JB and a star over a lyre / une étoile, une lyre au-dessus 
J. Brille, 59 rue Fontaine-au-Roi and 12 rue Debelleyme, Paris. Successor to Henry Brille (active c.1920s as Orbrille)
JM and a gabion / un gabion 
Moucheront Jean, 24 rue Beaubourg, Paris, active first quarter 20th century
JP 
Maker not identified
J.P and a ram / un bélier 
Julien Pierre, 32 rue de l'Acqueduc, Paris, active c. 1900. Orfèvrerie "au bélier"
JR and a sitting squirrel / un écureuil assis 
Rocher Jules, 75 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active 1884-1927. Succeeded by G. Durant
 K&Cie, under a +, over a star / un + et une étoile au-dessus 
Kahn & Compagnie, 1156 faubourg Poissonnière, Paris, active late 19th/early 20th century
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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 |
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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 ... SITE MAP SILVER DICTIONARY |
