French-antiques

Solid silver

Solid silver

The first silver hallmark was that of the town where the product was made.  Before the French Revolution silver hallmarks comprised  that of the silversmith , a letter date accompanied by the gild mark and a countermark which was the first standard mark guaranteeing the quality of silver of the piece.   The  Revolution abolished  the gilds and established  the "rooster" and "vieillard" hallmarks. From 1838 silver carries only the Makers Mark and Guarantee Mark.




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