ILD mark on French Style spoon

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Francais

ILD mark on French Style spoon

Post by Francais »

This is a mark I have been researching for 30 years. I would like to hear if anyone has seen an example of it,
and if so what part of the country it was in?

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grdavis
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Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2024 2:47 pm

Re: ILD mark on French Style spoon

Post by grdavis »

Hi Francis,

This one has me stumped as well. I just took in four serving spoons with this hallmark. Each are approx 2.5oz, 9 inches long by 2.75 inches wide. two part construction, soldered. letters ILD in a rectangle

These were recovered here in New Orleans, LA. They also came in with three other similar sized spoons from the same family.
One is "DC Jaccard &Co" out of St. Louis (makes sense based on river trade)
The other is William Pendleton Burdick approx 1815-1816. Marked with the "/BURDICK " in a serrated rectangle.
Aguest
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Re: ILD mark on French Style spoon

Post by Aguest »

::::: This may be a complete error, but based on the form alone, do you think this could be Swiss instead of American? :::::

:::::: If you look along the underneath-side of the handle, are there possibly other hallmarks that have been erased, and now they appear as a shiny, slick silvery surface? ::::::

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grdavis
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Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2024 2:47 pm

Re: ILD mark on French Style spoon

Post by grdavis »

The four that I currently have are in quote good shape. There are no other MD marks except the initials ILD. They also feature the same construction as the original poster.
blakstone
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Re: ILD mark on French Style spoon

Post by blakstone »

There was an article by Maurice Meslans in the Nov/Dec 2017 issue ofSilver Magazine - "Mississippi Valley Silver, Part 7" - devoted to this mark where he attributes it to New Orleans silversmith Jacques LeDuff (ca.1769-1821). Most scholars of New Orleans silver - including the late Pat Bacot, Ellis Joubert and Carrie Mackie - make the same attribution.

I am a little more cautious (as I think one has to be with initial marks) but that this mark turns up almost exclusively in the New Orleans area is very supportive of the attribution.

I don't think it is Swiss. The mark doesn't appear in any Swiss reference that I know of, nor does it appear with any other city or fineness mark on any example I have ever seen.

There is unlikely ever to be definitive proof, but I think LeDuff is the best guess we have for now.
grdavis
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Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2024 2:47 pm

Re: ILD mark on French Style spoon

Post by grdavis »

Thank you for that info. Ill have to find a copy of that article. I actually use these spoons as I love the weight and feel.

Glenn
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