Looking for identity of fork.

[juantotree]

Hi

I have this fork which was described as 18thC French from Rennes. I would be very grateful if anybody could confirm this for me or if this is incorrect advise on the country of manufacture and possibly identify the maker.

Many Thanks
Martin

[blakstone]

The crowned “9” was the charge mark of the Rennes mint, but this piece was made in Saint-Malo, which was under the Rennes jursidiction during the ancien régime. Top to bottom:

1) A club + 84: Saint-Malo countermark for 1784, but in actuality probably used ca. May 1785 to ca. 1787.
2) "aa" + a crowned lozenge & two pellets: maker’s mark of André Audouard (1711-1793; master 1743).
3) Crowned “9”: Charge mark of the Rennes mint, 1781-1789.

Interesting side note: Audouard spent some of his journeyman years, ca. 1735-42 in North America.

Hope this helps!

Ref: Jean-Jacques Rioult,Sophie Vergne, et al. Orfèvres de Haute Bretagne (Rennes: Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 2006), pp. 149 & 161.

[blakstone]

Oops! Just realized I missed the topmost mark:

Top) An ewer: Rennes décharge mark for large silver, 1781-1789

Sorry about that!

[juantotree]

Thank you very much blakstone for your very detailed reply, it is most appreciated.

Martin