PLATED AND ELECTROPLATED SILVER MARKS OF FRANCE DOUBL�, PLAQU�E, METAL, METAL BLANC, M�TAL ARGENT� -C - D- |
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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 "m�tal plaqu�", equivalent to British "Old Sheffield Plate", was a square or rectangular cartouche containing: - the initials of the maker - the word "DOUBL�" or "PLAQU�" - 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 Dixi�me (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 "m�tal plaqu�" from the "argenture par d�p�t �lectrolytique", 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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M�TAL ARGENT� | ||||
| 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 POIN�ON CARR� is the official mark for "m�tal argent�". 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 "POIN�ON CARR�" mark and "m�tal argent�" 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 Dixi�me / 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 "m�tal argent�". 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 | ||||
 C&L and a comet / une com�te 
E. Chauvin & Lacombe, 8 rue de Braque, Paris, active c. 1920
C&L and two stars / deux �toiles 
Collignon & L�ger, 22 rue Oberkampf, Paris, active from 1918
CB and a grasshopper / une sauterelle 
Balaine C., Paris, active c. 1865
CB and a press / une presse 
Boyron Claudius Louis, Lyon. Successor to Durousseau & Joly
CB and a sun / un soleil 
 Cailar & Bayard, 37 rue Grange-aux-Belles, Paris, founded in 1848 by Noel Cailar and Pierre Bayard. The firm used the name METALLONIDE for its metal alloy. Bought by Bouillet & Bourdelle in early 1900s, Cailar & Bayard closed in 1934 CB and a symbol / un symbol 
Charpentier
CC and a scale / une �chelle de poids
Christofle, mark 1862-1867Partner companies of Christofle were Halphen, Gombault-Desclercs, Manufacture de L'Alfenide and Gallia trademark CD and a dog's head / une t�te de dogue or CD and a hare's head / une t�te de li�vre 
Duguine Cl�ment, 11 rue Moli�re (1890) and 17 rue Saint-Augustin (1898), Paris, active until 1922or Duriez Charles, 100 boulevard Voltaire, Paris, active c. 1883 CG and a tree / un arbre 
Maker not identified
CH and a goat / une ch�vre
Halphen Charles, 4 rue d'Hauteville, Paris, mark 1877-1885
CH a sun /un soleil 
Cailar & Henry, Paris, active c. 1860
CJ and an ox's head, a star above the horns / une t�te de boeuf, une �toile au-dessus des cornes
Julien Charles, 59 rue des Gravilliers, Paris, active from 1914
CL and a cup / une coupe 
Laurent Charles, 18 impasse st S�bastien, Paris, active from 1956
CL and a child's head / une t�te d'enfant 
Lenfant C�sar, 20 rue des Deux-Portes-Saint-Sauveur, Paris, active from 1876
CL and an egg cup / une coquetier 
Longuet Camille, 171 rue du Temple, Paris, active from 1922
CM and a handshake / une poign�e de main 
Orf�vrerie de Chambly, rename of S.F.A.M in 1983. Closed in 2004
CM and a blackberry with two leaves / une m�re avec deux feuilles 
Murat Charles / Maison Murat S.A, 62 rue des Archives, Paris, active c. 1897
CM two crossed pipes and two stars / deux pipes en croix et deux etoiles, 
Capello-Morel, rue des Vieilles-Haudrettes, Paris, active c. 1853 - 1928
C.O.P. and two stars / deux �toiles 
Orf�vrerie Claude Perrin, 132 rue de Turenne, Paris and Villiers-le-Morhier, Eure-et-Loir (factory), active c.1923
C.O.P. 
Compagnie de l'Orf�vrerie Parisienne, 168 rue du Temple, Paris, active c. 1900
CP and a press / une presse 
Pillet C., Lyon
CROIX DE LORRAINE (CROSS OF LORRAINE) figural mark 
Orf�vrerie Lorraine, 17 rue d'Hauteville, Paris, active c. 1900
CS and a five leaf clover / une tr�fle a cinq feuilles 
Sicre Charles, 25 rue de la Villette, Paris, active 1899-1937
CV and an ant / une fourmi 
Maker not identified
CY and a symbol / un symbole 
Maker not identified
|  DAM and a tree / un arbre 
Maker not identified
DC and a bear / un ours 
Capmartin Dominique, 117 rue de Turenne, Paris, active from 1910
DC and a turtle / une tortue 
Cr�gut Daniel, Marais, Paris, active from 1946. Specialist in early childhood gifts.
DEBAIN and a phoenix and a star / un ph�nix et une �toile 
Debain Alphonse & Edouard, 20 rue Rambuteau and later rue des Quatre-Fils, Paris, active 1911-1929
DF or DFes and a rooster's head/une t�te de coq 
Deschamps Fr�res, 46 rue du Rocher, Paris, active from 1923
DG and a hand / une main 
G�rard Denis, 104 rue du Temple, Paris, active c. 1912successors to Ancien Maison Marchand (1852) DH and METAL BLANC 
Maker not identified
DIXI COUVERTS and a dice / d� � jouer 
Soci�t� des Couverts DIXI, 189 rue du Temple, Paris, active from 1949
DL a candlestick with the burning candle / un bougeoir avec la bougie allum�e 
Dreville & Labie, 134 rue du Temple, Paris, active 1888-1890successors of Dobb� & H�mon, founded 1832 DM a cup / une coupe 
Societ� D�coration Moderne, 15 rue des Rosiers, St. Ouen, active from 1949
DR and a press / une presse 
Durousseau & Raynaud, 13 rue Vend�me, Lyon
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 -
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DIRECTORY OF FRENCH SILVERSMITHS HALLMARKS
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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 |
