Fork 1798-1809, probably from Mons in Belgium

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anikopol
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Fork 1798-1809, probably from Mons in Belgium

Post by anikopol »

Hi all,

Here is a silver fork, and its marks.

Image

Image

Based on these mark, including the number 34 on the "garantie" mark (a bearded man in front), I think that this fork was made in Mons (Belgium) between 1798-1809.
As we konw, at that time Belgium was controlled by France, so these are French marks.

The silvermith mark is A, a dot, D in a rectangle (the dot is not very clear on the picture, but I am pretty sure of it existence when I directly look at the mark).
Interesting to note that this Belgian silversmith mark does not meet French official regulation of the time, under which silvermisth marks should be included in a lozenge. I suppose that in countries occupied by France, (at last some of the) silvermiths already installed keep their previous mark in order to avoid fabrication cost of a new punches, whereas new silversmith used losenge-shape marks. I do not know if silvermiths of occupied territories like Belgium (and later parts of was is now Germany, Swizerland and Italy) had an official authorisation allowing other-that-lozenge-shaped mark during this period, or if it was just a sort of "tolerance" from French authorities.

As you can guess, I would be pleased to know the name of this silvermith.

Thanks for your help !
oel
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Re: Fork 1798-1809, probably from Mons in Belgium

Post by oel »

In the photo is the assay office mark, and the number not visible. The regional assay office number of Mons at the time was indeed 34.

The master mark A.D in a rectangle was used by the silversmith & jeweller Antoine Joseph Delbar. He was born in Bruyelles (Tournai) 19-03-1739, married to Marie Anne Desenfans and he died in Mons on 19-09-1812. Antoine Joseph Delbar was already working in Mons during the guild (ancien régime) period and later during the French occupation in the period 1798-1814.
He was probably allowed to continue using his old master mark from the guild period, during the early years of the French occupation, until he was in need for a new master mark. It sometimes took quite a while for the new French legislation to come into effect and be implemented and for the new hallmarks to be made and available. The old guilds, the silversmiths successfully protested and stalled to avoid costs.
Dutch silversmiths were only obliged to use the lozenge from 1812 onwards.
Antoine Joseph Delbar
https://www.openarchieven.nl/abg:5619ce ... 4a848d7/nl

Peter.

Source; Van Dievoet, Walter, Répertoire général des orfèvres et des marques d'orfèvrerie en Belgique /.
Other title: Algemeen repertorium van de edelsmeden en van de merken van edelsmeedwerk in België General index of Belgian goldsmith silversmiths and hallmarks, Allgemeines Verzeichnis der belgischen Gold- und Silberschmiede und der Merkzeichen part II 1798-1942.
anikopol
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Posts: 142
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 11:24 am

Re: Fork 1798-1809, probably from Mons in Belgium

Post by anikopol »

Hi Peter,

Thanks a lot for your information, as always interesting, detailled & sourced.
I know a bit more about my modest silver fork now !

Once more, when I "studied" marks of this item, I though it was an interesting example regarding the difference, sometimes huge, between "how things were supposed to be" (here lozenge-shaped mark) according to regulation, or offficial history, and "how things actually were" (here and older mark that continue to be used because it is cheaper/more practical), when you have a closer look.
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