Normally when we think of antique sterling silver we think of England, where the tradition of hallmarking the metal for quality control goes back to the 13th century. French sterling silver hallmarks and maker’s marks were not as systematic as their British counterparts, but they and French sterling silver itself have quite an extensive history.

When French silversmiths first began marking their pieces, they used “maison commune” marks, which indicated the product’s town of origin. This system was complex, as each town had its own identifying symbol, and was complicated by the fact that each component of a final piece had its own identifying mark—for example, the handle of a silver pitcher would have a different hallmark than the pitcher it was attached to.

Maker’s marks first appeared in Paris in the 14th century and then spread outward into the rest of France. The marks were stamped inside a lozenge, a diamond with four equal side...

With this new standard, French sterling could have only 4.2 percent alloy; British sterling, by comparison, could have up to 7.5 percent alloy. As a result, French silver was quite soft, so silversmiths often finished pieces with a technique called burnishing, in which a silversmith compacted the surface of a piece by pressing it with the rounded edge of a steel blade. This process made the surface denser and consequently more resistant to wear and scratches.

When Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, an estimated 250,000 Huguenots (French Protestants) fled the country for fear of persecution. Many of these emigrants were skilled silversmiths who took their talents to more tolerant nations.

In 1689, the crown required all nobles to relinquish their silver to the monarchy in order to pay for foreign wars. As a result, many large pieces were simply melted down. As the rule of Louis XIV’s regime tightened, decorative styles in silver followed suit, as ornate baroque patterns gave way to more rigid, geometric styles.

With the French Revolution in 1789, even more silver was melted down, and the traditional guilds were disbanded. At the same time, the new government dramatically relaxed silver standards by raising the alloy maximum from 4.2 percent to 20 percent, which gave silversmiths a much greater degree of freedom. Also in 1789, the revolutionary government established new hallmarks, like the rooster and a profile of Veillard. The rooster and its variations remained standard marks until 1819.

The political upheaval dramatically diminished the number of customers who could afford fine silver. Thus, many pieces from this period, despite their fine design, were made using cheap methods—decorations were often crafted separately and then attached to the piece afterward, for example.

When Napoleon took power as a dictator in the early years of the 19th century, styles shifted from the Greek neoclassicism favored by the Revolution to the more formal, Roman look of the French Empire style. In the late 19th century, Art Nouveau arose out of dissatisfaction with industrialism, with asymmetrical designs and natural forms. With the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Art Deco (known then as Art Moderne) rose to prominence, with its angular, restrained design.

As styles changed over the decades, so did French hallmarks. From 1878 to 1973, French pieces marked for export carried the profile of the Roman god Mercury; when the mark included the number 1 or 2, the piece contained 95 or 80 percent silver, respectively.

Still used today, the famous Minerva mark—a profile of the Roman goddess, complete with helmet—also indicates the standard of a piece of French silver. Pieces with large Minerva marks bearing the numbers 1 and 0 are 92.5 percent silver; those with the number 2 are 80 percent silver, as are small Minerva marks with no number at all. The vase mark is the highest mark for French silver today, indicating 99.9 percent silver. Other marks include the weevil, swan, crab, and boar head.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Old Canadian Silver

The silver crosses discovered in the past hundred years in old Indian graves from Georgia to Wisconsin and Ontario are all of one … [more]

Janine Skerry Shows Off the Silver Collection at Colonial Williamsburg

My interest in silver started when I was a child. One of my earliest memories was opening either my mother or father’s jewelry box… [more]

The Kalo Shop, a Mecca for Arts and Crafts Sterling Silver

How did I get started collecting Arts and Crafts silver? My wife and I had been collecting Arts and Crafts items as far back as I … [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Chicago Silver

Chicago Silver

Paul Somerson's incredible reference on handwrought metalwork from the American Arts and Crafts movement of the ear… [read review or visit site]

Silver Marks Encyclopedia

Silver Marks Encyclopedia

An extensive reference guide to silver marks, hallmarks, trademarks and maker's marks found on antique and vintage … [read review or visit site]

Silver at the Victoria and Albert

Silver at the Victoria and Albert

This is a great reference site on silver, courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum. You can view silver items acc… [read review or visit site]

The Gilbert Collection

The Gilbert Collection

The late Sir Arthur Gilbert's collection of European silver, gold, enamel, and other items is now housed at the Vic… [read review or visit site]

Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj

Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj

“Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj” was the title of a 2008 exhibition at Columbia University’s Mi… [read review or visit site]

TheStieffCompany.com

TheStieffCompany.com

Scott Perkins is an enthusiastic evangelist for The Stieff Company, a significant Baltimore silversmith and maker o… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Sterling Silver

Discussion Forums: Sterling Silver

Other Great Reference Sites: Sterling Silver

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 107 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Antique French Sterling Silver Dish 1819-1838 Paris 984 Gr.French Victorian Sterling Silver Place Card Holders Putti/cherub 6 Pc Set/lot Antique French Sterling Silver Swan Handled Bowl Not WeightedSterling Silver Kirk Stieff Rose Repousse New French Hollow Knife Set X12 8 7/8"Alvin Sterling Silver Chateau Rose 1940 Pat New French Hollow Knives - Lot Of 12Vintage Sterling French Paste Rhinestone 14k Sterling Long Dangle Earrings RareSterling Silver Kirk Stieff Rose Repousse New French Hollow Knife Set X11 8 7/8"Vintage Rare Fantastic Parker French Sonnet Quadrille' Sterling SilverAntique Solid French Sterling Silver .950 Cream Milk Jug 93g Fully Marked NrAntique French Art Nouveau Amber Sterling Silver Cigarette Holder & Case NFrench Provincial-towle Sterling 5 Pc Place Setting -31870s French Sterling Silver Ornate Design Minerva Hallmark Dustpan W/ BrushSundance Catalog Sterling Scroll Filigree Mabe Pearl French Hook Drop Earrings5 Durgin Gorham Fairfax Old French Sterling Silver Handled Knives - Hs Monogram5 Durgin Gorham Fairfax Old French Sterling Silver Handled Knives - No Monos!Antique French Nouveau Sterling Coral Rosary Silver Finger Ring Locket Box VtgRare World War One Britain & France Allies Sterling Silver & Enamel Photo FrameNwot Michael Dawkins Sterling Silver White Mother Of Pearl French Wire EarringsNwot Michael Dawkins Sterling Silver Golden Mother Of Pearl French Wire EarringsFrench Provincial-towle Sterling 5 Pc Place Setting -2Towle Sterling Iced Tea Spoon French ProvincialTowle Sterling Iced Tea Spoon French ProvincialAntique Sterling Silver Joan Of Arc Medal French Pendant Chain Art Nouveau Vtg Silpada Sterling Silver Copper & Champagne Pearl Earrings French Wire W1521 RareFrench Provincial-towle Sterling 5 Pc Place Setting **antique French Fine Sterling Watch Chain Old Pawn Zuni Turquoise Needlepoint Sterling Silver French Hook Earrings NrVintage Hematite Lapis Sterling Silver 925 French Clip EarringsEstate 10.00ctw Genuine Emerald Sterling Silver Teardrop French Wire Earrings 5gRare Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Pendant Or Charm France Enamelled 1.6g A56Vintage Sterling Silver - Smooth Oval Dome 3g - French Clip Earrings Iw230New Silpada Sterling Silver Faithful Cross Dangle Earrings On French WiresSterling Silver Heart Shaped French Wire Earrings Western Etched Rope Design Native American Sterling Silver And Turquoise French Hook Pierced EarringsPrecious Amethyst 925 Sterling Silver French Clip Earrings"vm" Sterling Silver $ Turquoise French Hook Pierced Earrings Beautiful !New Sterling Silver 925 Earrings Dangle French Wire Peacock Quartz IrridecentAuthentic Trollbeads 925 Silver Murano Glass Bead French Anemone 61375Pre-owned Turquoise Sterling Silver French Hook Earrings _- Barse No ReserveRuehl No. 925 Abercrombie & Fitch MenSuperb Antique French Sterling Silver Strawberry SpoonsVintage Parker Arrow Ball Point Pen Motorola Sterling 925 Silver W/box FranceOld Pawn Zuni Turquoise Sterling Silver French Hook Earrings No Reserve10 Sterling Silver French Hook Earwires Cz Stone Ear Wire Dangle ConnectorVintage Sterling Silver Top Barrette Made In FranceVintage French Sterling Silver Baby Christening Cup 46 GramsAdorable 2 Ct Amethyst Blue Opal 925 Sterling Silver French Back EarringsStylish 1 Ct Tanzanite Blue Opal 925 Sterling Silver French Back EarringsAntique Sterling Silver Medal The French Republic By L. Mattei Beautiful French Sterling Silver Spoon With Girl And Mill Paris. Ernest EschwegeAntique Sterling Silver Bracelet // Silver Nun Medal // FranceEstate 925 Sterling Silver Inlaid Black Opal Turtle French Wire Earrings 4.2gArt Deco 925 Sterling Silver 1.30ct European Amber French Wire Earrings 6g100 X Wholesale Sterling Silver Earring Hooks French Ear Wires Ball Hooks100x Design Jewlery Diy 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry French Earring Hook EarwireFab Antique Sterling Silver French Notre Dame Travel Charm Paris FranceNew Sterling Silver - Cz Encrusted Pave 13g - French Clip Earrings Ix839Rare Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Pendant Or Charm Avf France Signed 2.2g A187Old Pawn Navajo Multi-stone Inlay Sterling Silver French Hook Earrings NrVintage Sterling Silver - Smooth Oval Dome 16g - French Clip Earrings Ix608