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 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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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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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 millimeter or 0.001mm). |
FRENCH SILVERPLATE MAKERS |
Maker not identified, EB and an hourglass / un sablier 
Veuve Léontine Compère, 79 rue Quincampoix, Paris, widow of Ernest Compère (1868-1888) active 1888-1911EC Vve and a running rabbit / un lapin courant 
Hermès Emile, 21 rue Boissy d'Anglas, Paris, active from 1922EH and a stirrup / un ètrier 
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 silverworkEP and a pocket knife / un couteau de poche 
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 directorFC and a crown / une couronne 
Félix Frères, 1 rue Alsace, Toulouse, active c. 1875FELIX Fres 
Frionnet François, 8 rue des Quatre-Fils, Paris, succeeded to Frionnet Albert in 1944 FF and a croissant / un croissant 
Maker not identifiedFF and a winged lion / un lion ailé 
Maker not identifiedFF sorrounding a mallet / entourant un maillet 
Levrat François, Paris, active from 1811FL and a crescent moon, an arrow, a star below / un croissant de lune, une flèche, une étoile en dessous 
Gallia a trade mark of ChristofleGALLIA and a rooster / un coq 
Gandais Jacques Augustin, active c.1834GANDAIS and "DOUBLÉ" into a square 
Boin - Taburet, 3 rue Pasquier, Paris, active c. 1900GB and a stool / un tabouret 
Benoît Georges, 5 rue du Perche, Paris, active from 1922GB and a dog into a square / un chien dans un carré 
Carpentier Gustave fils, 40 quai Jemmapes, Paris, active from 1922GC and a sword / une épée 
Maker not identified, GD and a silversmith's hammer / un marteau d'orfèvre 
Durousseau G. (possibly), Lyon, possible predecessor of Durousseau & RaynaudGD and a press / une presse 
Fouquet-Lapar George, 25 rue de Choiseul, Paris, active 1897-1925. Succeeded to his father in law Leon LaparGFL and a chisel / un ciseau d'orfèvre 
Gay Gabriel & Cie, GrenobleGG and a boxer / un boxeur 
Giacobbi Georges, 38 rue des Blancs Manteaux, Paris, active from 1919GG and a star / une étoile 
Maker not identified, GM 
Gombault (Jean), G (Gothic) into a crowned shield / dans un écu couronné 
Maker not identified, G.R. and an eagle / un aigle 
Maker not identified, GR and a winged helmet / un casque ailé 
Rocher Georges, 31 rue de Debelleyme, Paris, active 1920-1924GR and an engraver tool with a star / un boulet de graveur surmonté d'une étoile 
Hénin & Cie, 77 rue des Archives, Paris, active from 1896. Succeeded to Hénin & VivierH&Cie and a rosebud above, a star below the initials / un bouton de rose au-dessus, une étoile au-dessous des initiales 
Kindberg Henry, Paris, active 1824-1838HK and a grasshopper pierced by an arrow / une sauterelle transpercée d'une flèche 
Soufflot Henri, 89 rue de Turbigo, Paris, active from 1884-1910HS and a rising sun / un soleil levant 
Mailhan & Mailhan possiblyIM AM and a mallet / un maillet 
Alliard Philippe Joseph , orfèvre, banquier, directeur de la Monnaie - Bruxelles 1804-1877JA and an arrow / une flèche 
J. Brille, 12 rue Debelleyme, Paris, a successor of Henry Brille (active c.1920s as Orbrille)JB and a star over a lyre / une étoile, une lyre au-dessus 
Moucheront Jean, 24 rue Beaubourg, Paris, active first quarter 20th centuryJM and a gabion / un gabion 
Maker not identified, JP 
Kahn & Compagnie, 1156 faubourg Poissonnière, Paris, active late 19th/early 20th centuryK&Cie, under a +, over a star / un + et une étoile au-dessus |
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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 ... SITE MAP SILVER DICTIONARY |
