PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE DOUBLÉ, PLAQUÉE, METAL, METAL BLANC, MÉTAL ARGENTÉ -P - Z- |
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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 |
ST HILAIRE, a line of Orfèvrerie Ercuis after merging with Produx SA, registered by SOCIETE ERCUIS-PRODUX on 30 March 1988, 1st and 2nd quality "métal argenté". The Orfèvrerie Produx Saint Hilaire was a secondary establishment of Ercuis and closed 3 October 2006PA and the head of an Egyptian pharaoh / la tête d'un pharaon égyptien (a similar symbol was used for solid silver/argent massif hallmark. The PA stands, possibly, for Adrien Pillon, the founder of Ercuis 
Maker not identifiedPAX LABOR 
Pichard-Balme, Saumur, active from 1844PB (or Sté PB) and a cross (or a dagger) / une croix (ou un poignard) 
Boyer et Fils, ParisPB and a hammer / un marteau 
Devouge Pierre, 8bis rue Fontaine-au-Roi, Paris, active from 1922PD and a spoon / une cuillère 
Maker not identified, PE MA J around a star / autour d'une étoile 
Guillaumot Paul-François, 40 galerie Montpensier, Paris, active from 1907PG and a helmet / un casque 
Gigon Paul, 38 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active from 1912PG and a rake / un rateu 
Orfèvrerie Phénix, Lyon, active first third of 20th centuryPHENIX 
Meurgey Pierre, 20 passage Saint-Sébastien, Paris, active 1929-presentPM and a symbol (a ram's head?) / un symbole (une tête de bélier?) 
Massat Frères, 15 rue Crussol, Paris, active 1885-1910. Succeeded to Paul Massat, 1877-1885P MASSAT and a lyre with a point on each side / une lyre avec un point de chaque côté 
Maker not identified, PP and a lozenge / un losange 
Pernot & Semin, Paris, late 19th centuryPS and a symbol / un symbole 
Tosany Paul, 51 rue Hermel, Paris, from 1922PT and a bird's nest / un nid d'oiseau 
Ravinet & Cie, 83 rue du Temple, Paris, Succeeded in 1912 to Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles, followed in 1923 by Ravinet d'Enfert & Cie. The company closed activity in 1984R&Cie and a clover / un trèfle 
Ravinet Louis & Denfert Charles, 83 rue du Temple, Paris, active 1891-1912. Succeeded by Ravinet & Cie and from 1923 by Ravinet d'Enfert & Cie. The company closed activity in 1984RD and a clover / un trèfle 
RENEKA, founded in 1927 by René Kauss, 3 Route des Romains, Strasbourg (Bas-Rhine)RK and a winged elephant / un éléphant ailé 
Roux - Marquiand, Lyon, from 1876RM and a star / une étoile 
Marson Robert, 30 rue de Bondy, Paris, active from 1918 RM and a lamp / une lampe électrique 
Société Anonyme Argental, 72, boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, active at "Usine de l'Argental" Coulommiers en Seine-et-Marne from 1921. The activity was bought in 1968 by Orfèvrerie ErcuisSA and a halberd / une hallebarde 
Saglier Frères, 12 rue d'Enghien, Paris, Eugène and André Saglier, succeeded to their father Victor Saglier, active from 1897SF and four stars / quatre étoiles often accompanied by the mark VS of their father Victor Saglier 
S.F.A.M., Société Française d'Alliage de Métaux, created in 1926 in Bornel, Oise region. Renamed Orfèvrerie de Chambly in 1983. Closed in 2004S.F.A.M. and a handshake / une poignée de main ("poinçon de bonne foi" / good faith mark) 
The Orfèvrerie de Chambly maintained the figural trademark with the initials CM 
Orfévrerie St. Médard, Founded in 1898. Became the French branch of Belgian firm Eternum (founded 1924).
Saint Médard Eternum, 27 Rue Jules Raimu, Chambly, Picardie, FranceSM 
Maker not identifiedSMF and fleur de lys 
Maker not identifiedSO over G and a crown / une couronne 
Societé d'Orfèvrerie Hotelière, SOH, ParisSOH 
Prud'homme Stéphane, rue Amelot, Paris. Succeeded in 1928 to Prud'homme Ernest SP and a caduceus / un caducée 
Maker not identified,TA into a shield and a rampant lion / dans un bouclier et un lion 
Tétard Frères, 4 rue Béranger, Paris, active from c.1903T.Fres and a terra cotta casserole dish / une huguenote 
Henry Théodore, 46 rue de la Folie-Méricourt, Paris, active 1870s/1880sTH a shamrock / un trèfle 
Udner, LyonUDNER 
Maker not identified, VDM and two crossed cutlery and a star / deux couverts croisés et une étoile
Veyrat Jean-François, Paris, active from 1815-1820 (fer plaqué / plated iron), 1820-1832 (cuivre plaqué / plated copper) and 1832-1840 (argent et métal plaqué). Succeeded by Veyrat et fils (1840-1849, in partnership with his son Adolphe Veyrat).VEYRAT and two stars / deux étoiles 
Coutellerie de table Apollonox - Société Générale de Coutellerie et Orfèvrerie, factory located in Thier (Auvergne) with headquarters in rue Pastourelle, ParisVH and a seated lion / un lion assis 
Maker not identified, VL and a sailing ship / un voilier 
Delaire V.ve, 94 boulevard Richard-Lenoir, Paris, active 1920/1928 VveD and a woman's head with helmet / une tête de femme avec un casque |
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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 |
