FRENCH SILVERPLATE MARKS
PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE
DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ -L - O- |
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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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Grands Magasins du Louvre, rue de Marengo, Paris, a retail business active from 1855 L and a seated lion / un lion assis
Maker not identified L&S and an anchor / une ancre
Auzolle Léopold, Paris, active 1885-1905 LA and a symbol / un symbole
Maker not identified LC and two crossed cutlery / deux couverts croisés
Le Couvert Francais LCF under a crown, into an araldic shield / sous une couronne, dans un bouclier araldique
Lenain & Fils, 16 rue Dupetit-Thouars, Paris, 1920-1929 LF 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 Ercuis LUTETIA
Maison Barra, MB and a symbol / un symbole
Mégemond Joseph & Charles Deneux, 3 passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, active 1863-1888 MD and an anvil / un enclume
Gouaille Maurice, 13 rue Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth, Paris, active after 1922 M GOUAILLE and a star / M. Gouaille et une étoile
Maker not identified MM 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 1963 MPR 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 1921 N&A and a crank / un tour
Collet Noël, 68 rue Victor Hugo à Puteaux, active from 1922 NC and a cock / un coq

POINÇON CARRÉ adopted after 1983
Maison Odiot, Paris, founded in 1690 O and an oil lamp / une lampe
Orfèvrerie Christofle, Gallia collection OC 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 Ercuis OE and LUTETIA into a crowned shield / LUTETIA en écu couronné
maker not identified OL and a symbol / un symbole
Orfèvrerie Galliaa trade mark of Christofle ORFÈVRERIE 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 ...
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