Unknown French gold makers mark and date?

[Londontown]

Hi please could anyone help me in identifying this French gold Makers mark it is on a necklace it looks lik H C?
any date information would also be great.
I have searched online with no luck.



Thanks for looking:)

Dean

[jgl]

May be EC or RC ??
Have another better picture ?
And look at http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/marque_fr
Best regards

[Londontown]

Hi the picture I posted was taken with a digital microscope because my camera shots were not so clear.

Here is the best camera shot I have.



Also is the link you posted a Mark database? Sorry I do know much French but I will try to use it using a translator.

Thank you

regards Londontown.

[SteveDWollongong]

Hi Londontown,

I think the initials may read as H C. Have a look on the marque link supplied by jgl and see if you think its a match for Henry Cagan.

Cheers,
Steve

[Londontown]

Thanks Steve,
I have looked at the picture of the mark its quite similar but the centre symbol is a long stem glass,
and mine looks more like a figure with one arm outstretched?
maybe it was bad stamping but I also have similar marks on the clasp more worn but the same symbol?
the plot thickens lol.

all the best Londontown.

[Londontown]

Here is the French 16" choker.
hopefully seeing it will help with the identification of the maker and date.
The main stone is a 35 carat Blue Topaz flanked by smaller sapphires and ten rows of pearls.
that are attached to a bar.



Thanks for looking

Londontown

[Londontown]

also here is the rear view of the choker



Thanks for looking

Londontown.

[Londontown]

I have just noticed there is a letter a in script on the eagles head gold mark.
Can this help to date the necklace?



Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for looking.

Londontown

[JayT]

You have an eagle eye to have seen the alpha. The eagle head is the mark for 18k (750) gold, with the alpha indicating Paris after 1993. The maker is a mystery to me.

Source: Markezana, Y. Les poinçons français d'or, d'argent, de platine de 1275 à nos jours, p. 105, 127.

[Londontown]

Hi Jay T,
Thanks for your reply the same marks are also on both sides of the clasp,
The makers marks seem more worn than the eagle head marks,
also on one side of the clasp is a very worn stamp of a fleur de lis.
maybe a duty stamp?
The stones appear to be old cut especially the sapphires at the sides.
I would love to know who the maker is it looks like H C but it might not even be a H.
I am not sure.

Thanks for your help.

If anyone has an ideas please let me know.

Londontown

[JayT]

Hi Londontown
I understand that the date of the eagle stamp matches neither the style or the technique of your lovely necklace. This means that the object was restamped in Paris post-dating manufacture. There could be a number of reasons for this.

As for the maker, because your quest is frustrating (more to you than to me I'm sure), I looked through both volumes of Arminjon covering the period 1798-1875. You have looked at the Ministry of Culture website for marks from 1875-present. I looked at HC, HG, EC and EG with no joy.

This means:
-we're not reading the maker's initials properly
-the necklace was not made in Paris
-the necklace was not made in France.

I don't know what you mean about a fleur-de-lys duty mark. I'd have to see it to comment further. It is always a good idea to show all marks to get the best feedback.

Good luck in your continuing research!

[Londontown]

Hi Jay T,
I really appreciate your help here here is a picture of the mark not very well stamped but does resemble a fleur de lis,(click for larger view)



This necklace is hard to pin down design wise it looks almost ancient, also I think the pearls are a later addition.
Because of the attachment bars and no individual holes for rows?
Also I think it was originally fitted with a choker with maybe silk or velvet that went out of fashion or deteriorated.
It is really puzzling (if only it could speak) lol.

The plot thickens

Thanks Londontown