Christofle Chinon silverplated spoon marks identification help

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Christofle Chinon silverplated spoon marks identification help

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Author	Topic: Christofle Chinon silverplated spoon marks identification help
dmstbr Posts: 7 Registered: Nov 2018	posted 11-17-2018 11:31 AM Hello. This is my first post on here and I hope that you can help me. We have inherited some silverplated antique Christofle cutlery - at least we thought that it was all Christofle. Thanks to the magic of Google, I am slowly becoming quite informed about antique French and German silverplate - made in the same style as the Christofle Chinon pattern. I have read several posts on here about the subject which have helped quite a bit. But I am still stuck at the moment. I am posting 2 pictures on the silver plate marks on this dinner spoon. . METAL BLANC - I believe that Christofle was the first to use this as a base metal (nickel I think) in 1878. Does the fact that this is stamped on the spoon prove that it is Christofle? . H mark in a square - Could this possibly be from Halphen? I believe that Christofle broke ranks with Halphen in 1878 and that Halphen's mark was one with a goat head. If it is not for Halphen. what does it mean? . 79 mark in a square - Is this a year mark, as in 1879, like what is marked on Christofle silverplate. . mark 6 89 and oval mark with possible standing bear in middle and letters J and C or G on either side - I am at a complete loss for this mark. Of the six spoons that I have, there is only one that has the additional mark at the base of the spoon handle. I have searched and searched online through many silverplate hallmark sites and am really struggling with this. Would greatly appreciate any information anyone here could give me. Thanks so much for your time. [This message has been edited by dmstbr (edited 11-17-2018).] [This message has been edited by dmstbr (edited 11-17-2018).] IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 11-17-2018 12:50 PM Welcome. Please see: To successfully join in,you must know the following !! IP: Logged
dmstbr Posts: 7 Registered: Nov 2018	posted 11-17-2018 02:22 PM Sorry about that - got it right now! Thanks. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 11-17-2018 02:26 PM quote: Please introduce yourself • Tell everyone about yourself, your interests in silver, • And why you are posting. - We're not being snoopy; knowing will help us help you and to welcome you to our small community. IP: Logged
dmstbr Posts: 7 Registered: Nov 2018	posted 11-17-2018 04:00 PM So... more info about me. In clearing out the house of my parents in law, we have come across some very interesting antiques which unfortunately, we do not know very much about. I decided to investigate and see if I could figure out the history and origin of some of these items. I have found the investigation of silver most interesting so far - so many hallmarks and puzzles to try and put together. The more I have read online, the more interesting I find the search for the answers. I have no experience at all with antiques but am learning by the day at the moment and enjoying every minute of it. [This message has been edited by dmstbr (edited 11-17-2018).] IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 11-17-2018 04:14 PM Thank you. Good job with the photos. I'm not very knowledgeable about French Silver plate but there are other members who are. Hopefully they will see your post, sooner than later, and comment. IP: Logged
dmstbr Posts: 7 Registered: Nov 2018	posted 11-17-2018 04:32 PM Glad I could get good pictures of the marks! I have a few more puzzles of a similar nature which I hope to post soon - a bit more searching to do still. Thanks for being patient while I get the hang of this forum. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 11-18-2018 02:21 AM There are others here who are more knowledgeable than I on this subject, but just to offer a couple of thoughts - Christofle was and still is exceptionally proud of their wares and from what I have seen were proud to mark all of their things with their marks. If there are no Christofle marks my first thought would be that it is from another maker. My second thought is the term "metal blanc" is French for "white metal" which can be pretty much anything that is silver-ish in color, including nickel and various alloys. My first thought on something marked with this only and no Christofle markings would be that it is some other maker. As you have already discovered, there seems to have been a fair amount of "borrowing" of flatware patterns by various makers in Europe during that time so having flatware that appears to be the same design does not mean it was all made by the same company. Often there are tiny differences in a design from different makers that can be hard to spot. Finally, sterling silver has always had a following in part because it is a precious metal that has led to a well documented system of markings on it. Because of this there is a fairly good (not perfect) data base on country of origin and silver quality markings. Silver plate sadly does not enjoy this richness of data on its markings as there has been little government control on them. So, information on silver plate markings is spotty and there are a great many different ones that are still mysteries. Hopefully someone here will recognize yours but if not you should simply enjoy the beauty of your flatware and use it often continuing your family tradition of this set from various makers. [This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 11-19-2018).] IP: Logged
dmstbr Posts: 7 Registered: Nov 2018	posted 11-18-2018 11:23 AM Thanks for your comments. I am quickly discovering just how complicated this quest to discover the origin of this flatware can be. IP: Logged
dmstbr Posts: 7 Registered: Nov 2018	posted 11-18-2018 11:39 AM As previously mentioned, here is another mystery in my flatware identification quest. These are smaller silver plated spoons that are marked as follows: . Mark in a square with the number 20 - Possible mark for amount of silver (in grams) used in the silver plating? Would make sense to me as amount of plating is much lower than other spoons that we have and the silver plate has worn off in numerous places on these spoons. . Mark in a diamond shape with 4 dots. I have searched for a very long time on this mark and have not been able to find any info at all. Any ideas please? . Mark of a straight antler in a rectangle. This mark was used by WMF and as far as I know indicated nickel plated silver and dates from 1900. What is strange to me is that if these spoons are WMF, why is there no mark for WMF? Is the mark with the dots in it a better clue as to who the maker is? Here are the pictures of the marks Would appreciate insight into these marks are well. Thanks so much. IP: Logged

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