Search found 137 matches

by bijoux.expert
Sun Aug 24, 2025 3:22 am
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: Small Knife in Case
Replies: 12
Views: 633

Re: Small Knife in Case

I think it was designed for sharpening wits - it's doing a good job at the moment...
by bijoux.expert
Sat Aug 23, 2025 8:03 am
Forum: Contributors' Notes
Topic: The Mesh Bag and Bag Frame Industry
Replies: 122
Views: 60655

Re: The Mesh Bag and Bag Frame Industry

The larger mesh bags are sometimes found in green gold, though I've never seen the small ones in this colour, they're always in either yellow gold or silver.
It's worth noting that the small purses, when they are oval or rounded, were used for holding coins, while the square or rectangular ones were ...
by bijoux.expert
Sat Aug 23, 2025 7:14 am
Forum: Other Countries
Topic: identify this hallmark?
Replies: 12
Views: 1292

Re: identify this hallmark?

Nice work Peter.
I knew it couldn't possibly be the mark that was initially suggested, your attribution ticks all the boxes !
by bijoux.expert
Sat Aug 23, 2025 5:30 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: Marks on Dupont Classique Pens
Replies: 5
Views: 375

Re: Marks on Dupont Classique Pens

The Mercury head hallmark in an oval frame was used between 1879 and 1994 to mark items intended for export, and for which the hallmarking duties had been refunded.
The crab hallmark was employed to mark small silver items between 1838 and 1984. The assay office mark V can be distinguished on the ...
by bijoux.expert
Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:56 am
Forum: European Jewelry
Topic: French? Makers mark help please ID
Replies: 1
Views: 411

Re: French? Makers mark help please ID

The maker is Marcel ALBERT, of Paris, symbol an ant between MA . The mark was registered on 1st February 1925.

Note that this company specialised in findings and especially catches, so they were almost certainly not the makers of the earrings, just the clip.
You should find other marks on the wire ...
by bijoux.expert
Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:49 am
Forum: European Jewelry
Topic: 56 golden chain
Replies: 3
Views: 544

Re: 56 golden chain

56 stands for 14 carat, you would need to determine which Eastern European country hallmarked the chain before trying to identify the maker.
by bijoux.expert
Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:46 am
Forum: Other Countries
Topic: identify this hallmark?
Replies: 12
Views: 1292

Re: identify this hallmark?

The maker's mark on the spoon shows a crowned 11F, apparently struck by using two separate punches.
Is there any indication that the maker that has been suggested would have used two punches to strike his maker's mark? This would be very unusual, I haven't seen any similar cases, and the photo of ...
by bijoux.expert
Sun Jun 29, 2025 1:46 pm
Forum: French Silver
Topic: French revolutionary hallmark?
Replies: 5
Views: 796

Re: French revolutionary hallmark?

As a matter of interest, my research indicates there's no truth to or evidence for the popular suggestion that certain hallmarks found were private marks made by the French silversmith's association.

It appears these marks should be considered more as assay marks, possibly arranged by silversmiths ...
by bijoux.expert
Sun Jun 29, 2025 1:38 pm
Forum: French Silver
Topic: French Silver Paste Buckle
Replies: 3
Views: 14212

Re: French Silver Paste Buckle

I agree with the identification of the maker, however as his christian name is Adrien, and his surname Pierre, it might be best to call him Mr. Adrien Pierre. He worked at 145 rue du Temple, Paris, his maker's mark was registered 19th August 1910.
by bijoux.expert
Tue Jun 10, 2025 4:00 pm
Forum: French Silver
Topic: French revolutionary hallmark?
Replies: 5
Views: 796

Re: French revolutionary hallmark?

The eagle's head facing left was used in 1809 in the French departments as a census mark on medium-sized gold and silver objects.
When the new hallmarks were introduced in 1809, a census was decreed to be held from 1 September to 1 November 1809. The census marks were affixed: firstly on works ...
by bijoux.expert
Thu Jun 05, 2025 4:53 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: Antique bowl
Replies: 7
Views: 754

Re: Antique bowl

I've been dealing in jewellery and silverware for 45 years, I'm good with 19th century hallmarks but poor with 18th century, I would have to agree that the marks are fake. The style of the plate is completely anachronistic - nothing in that style was ever made in 18th century France.
by bijoux.expert
Fri May 23, 2025 2:32 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: French salt spoon
Replies: 5
Views: 710

Re: French salt spoon

For what it's worth, a drop of acid on the maker's mark will in some cases make it more visible. The police use the same technique to reveal serial numbers filed off guns, and US coin dealers use it on buffalo nickels to reveal the dates which have worn away. When metal is struck, the lower parts ...
by bijoux.expert
Fri May 23, 2025 2:29 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: French salt spoon
Replies: 5
Views: 710

Re: French salt spoon

I've had a through all the marks starting with an S and with an E or an F, no luck. I also searched for marks with the symbol of a lucarne (beetle) or tenaille (pincers), still nothing.
by bijoux.expert
Fri May 16, 2025 6:59 am
Forum: Mystery Objects
Topic: Spoon Usage?
Replies: 2
Views: 671

Re: Spoon Usage?

Yes, I totally agree, it looks like an egg spoon.
Untreated silver goes black and can give an unpleasant taste when used to consume eggs.
by bijoux.expert
Fri May 16, 2025 6:47 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: Ancien regime cobalt glass sugar bowl
Replies: 4
Views: 547

Re: Ancien regime cobalt glass sugar bowl

New hallmarks were introduced each time that it was observed that fake hallmarks were becoming too prevalent. Hallmarking was a useful source of taxes for the government, and it got annoyed whenever more than half of all jewellery was bypassing the assay offices.
Each time new hallmarks were ...
by bijoux.expert
Tue May 06, 2025 5:35 am
Forum: General Questions
Topic: French Maker's Marks
Replies: 0
Views: 984

French Maker's Marks

Hello,
I'm presently working on a new book, Maker's Marks of the Great French Jewellery Houses and their Workshops .
While it's not difficult to find all the marks of the major houses, it's virtually impossible to find ALL of the workshops (or subcontractors) who made silverware and jewellery for ...
by bijoux.expert
Mon May 05, 2025 5:11 pm
Forum: Dutch Silver
Topic: Old chatelaine fob with watch, UK ?
Replies: 2
Views: 753

Re: Old chatelaine fob with watch, UK ?

The hallmarks and style are Dutch, you might like to post your question on the Dutch hallmarks page where you'll attract answers from competent people.
by bijoux.expert
Thu May 01, 2025 7:45 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: Christofle import
Replies: 6
Views: 697

Re: Christofle import

Christofle makes solid silver in its Normandy factory in Yainville.
Some years ago one of my staff, who was buying jewellery in a hotel in Rouen, not far away, purchased several kilos of new Christofle sterling silverware. I noticed that each piece had a mark made with a red felt pen indicating a ...
by bijoux.expert
Sun Apr 27, 2025 5:06 pm
Forum: French Silver
Topic: Christofle import
Replies: 6
Views: 697

Re: Christofle import

While there is definitely a problem with the hallmarks, it's worth bearing in mind that Christofle does in fact make solid silver items, though it is more known for its silver plated ware.
There is always the small possibility that the bowl is in fact made of solid silver and that Christofle made an ...
by bijoux.expert
Sun Apr 20, 2025 10:45 am
Forum: French Silver
Topic: Carnet de bal
Replies: 4
Views: 659

Re: Carnet de bal

In my experience, when no official assay mark is seen, there are three reasons. The most usual is that the object has not been examined carefully enough and that the mark is in fact there, though not immediately apparent. On your photo, I can see a mark in the top right-hand corner and another in ...

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