SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales


The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!

General Silver Forum



Silver Salon internal search
or

REGISTER (click here) How to Post Photos


customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  General Silver Forum
tline3open  Christofle is SO confusing!

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Christofle is SO confusing!
suefromoz

Posts: 58
Registered: May 2002

iconnumber posted 06-10-2002 10:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for suefromoz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
[01-0711]

Hi everyone

I have just purchased a very long pair of sugar tongs (5 3/4" length), marked with a square, with a diamond inside and the scales , with C on each side. There is also a thin rectangle with Christofle on the same part of the tongs. There are no other marks. Silver or plate? I can see no sign of wear at all and any slight pitting looks to be silver.

I have also got a 7 3/4" pickle fork from the same estate. The marks are a five sided flower shape with something in the center and possibly two tiny letters at the side of that. There is also a very worn, long triangular shape with a design in side that is far too worn to identify. This , too, is supposed to be Christofle, but I am beginning to doubt that.

Any clues??

Thanking you all
Sue

IP: Logged

Brent

Posts: 1507
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 06-10-2002 11:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brent     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi sue,

I'm not sure on the Chrostofle, but the fork marks are Austria-Hungarian. The mark on the left is the 800 standard mark used between 1866 and 1922. The character to the right of the woman's head, if you can decipher it, will tell you where the piece was assayed. The other mark is almost certainly a maker's mark.

Brent

IP: Logged

suefromoz

Posts: 58
Registered: May 2002

iconnumber posted 06-10-2002 07:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for suefromoz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you Brent for that grest info. I have turned the stamp the right way up and even managed to get a better picture. The fork has a P on the profile side and , I think it is a 3 or a 2 on the hair side.

I have managed to get a very bad pic of the Christofle marks as well. What confuses me, Brent, is that the Christofle silver plated crumb tray, that I had previously, had a zillion marks but this piece only has the two. Does that mean it is silver, not plate?

IP: Logged

akgdc

Posts: 289
Registered: Sep 2001

iconnumber posted 06-10-2002 09:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for akgdc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Austrian forks are silver, but the Christofle flatware, like most Christofle, is silverplate. The marks do vary a bit, but these are definitely for plate.

IP: Logged

Brent

Posts: 1507
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 06-12-2002 12:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brent     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just to add, the P in the profile mark stands for Pest, now called Budapest, in present-day Hungary. The numeral to the left of the head is a 3, for 3rd standard or 800 fine silver. If it were a 2, the shape of the mark would be different.

Brent

IP: Logged

Marc

Posts: 414
Registered: Jun 2002

iconnumber posted 06-14-2002 10:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Marc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi there Sue,
I have been dealing in silver and silver plate for 22 years and when it comes to French silver, modern era goods (after 1838), if it is marked and does not have the "minerva head" quality stamp it is silver plated. This is specially true of the large houses such as Christoffle, and Cartier.

When they produce silver plated wares, they do it well, so there is wonderfully thick layer of silver over the base metal.

I have found that the French are more particular than the British when it comes to marking silver.

If you would like to read more, get hold of a TARDY published "International Hallmarks on Silver" in English and look at the 120 page section on French silver.

Hope this helps.

Marc Cutcher

IP: Logged

suefromoz

Posts: 58
Registered: May 2002

iconnumber posted 06-15-2002 12:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for suefromoz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you all for your very valuable advice. The only thing I must say is that from a non silver collector, I am starting to amass a rather nice selection of sugar tongs! At least they will never be used and abused here, as I never buy sugar lumps....

And Marc, that is a gem of info to be stored and used.

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices