PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ -L - O- |
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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 |
Grands Magasins du Louvre, rue de Marengo, Paris, a retail business active from 1855L and a seated lion / un lion assis 
Maker not identifiedL&S and an anchor / une ancre 
Auzolle Léopold, Paris, active 1885-1905LA and a symbol / un symbole 
Maker not identifiedLC and two crossed cutlery / deux couverts croisés 
Le Couvert FrancaisLCF under a crown, into an araldic shield / sous une couronne, dans un bouclier araldique 
Lenain & Fils, 16 rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris, 1920-1929LF and a two interlaced L / deux L entrelacés 
Lamy & Lacroix, 40 rue Meslay (later 36, rue de Bondy), Paris. Partnership of Aimé Lamy (1819-1889) and Elie Lacroix, active 1858-1881. Parisian branch of Lamy & Lacroix, foundry in Morez, Jura. LL and a crown over a star / une couronne, une étoile au-dessus LL and a crown / une couronne L&L and a crown / une couronne 
Ravinet Louis, (1854-1925), succeeded to E. Tonnelier in 1882. In 1891 entered in partnership with Charles D'Enfert (1865-1960) in a company under the style Ravinet D'Enfert (see mark RD).LR and crossed spoon and forks over a star / cuillère et fourchettes croisées sur une étoile 
Schooman Louis, 90 rue d'Angouléme and 9 impasse de la Baleine, Paris, active from 1921 LS and a hunting horn / un cor de chasse 
Lutetia, a 1910s/1920s line of Orfèvrerie ErcuisLUTETIA 
Maison Barra,MB and a symbol / un symbole 
Mégemond Joseph & Charles Deneux, 3 passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, active 1863-1888MD and an anvil / un enclume 
Gouaille Maurice, 13 rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth, Paris, active after 1922M GOUAILLE and a star / M. Gouaille et une étoile 
Maker not identifiedMM and an ear / une oreille 
Poussielgue Rusand Maurice , (1861-1933). owner of Maison Poussielgue Rusand Fils, 5 rue Cassette, Paris, the company was active until 1963MPR and a sword, two anchors and sacred heart / une épée, deux ancres et un coeur sacré 
Noury Jules & Allain Edmond, 10 and 14 rue de Oberkampf, Paris, active from 1921N&A and a crank / un tour 
Collet Noël, 68 rue Victor Hugo à Puteaux, active from 1922NC and a cock / un coq  POINÇON CARRÉ adopted after 1983 
Maison Odiot, Paris, founded in 1690O and an oil lamp / une lampe 
Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia collectionOC and a chess horse / un cheval d'échecs 
Orfèvrerie Ercuis, founded in 1867 by Adrien Céleste Pillon. From 2015 the company is under the control of the Italian group Sambonet Paderno
OE and a centaur / un centaure 
the new POINÇON CARRÉ adopted after 1983 by Orfèvrerie Ercuis to mark the "métal argenté"
Lutetia, a 1910s/1920s line of Orfèvrerie ErcuisOE and LUTETIA into a crowned shield / LUTETIA en écu couronné 
maker not identifiedOL and a symbol / un symbole 
Orfèvrerie Galliaa trade mark of ChristofleORFÈVRERIE GALLIA and a rooster within a shield / un coq dans un bouclier |
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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 |
