I have a small spoon in very simple shape which is 13.5 cm long and weighs 4 grams. Here is a picture of both sides of this spoon :
It bears 3 marks on the back of the handle, and has no other distinctive decoration or signs. Here are the marks :
The only mark I was able to identify is the one on the right: this kind of hatchet (called "faisceau de licteur" in French, don't know the translation in English) is the French small guarantee mark used in Paris for small items between 1797 and 1809 .
With such a mark, we should also have two other marks: a cockerel as the standard mark and a lozenge mark for the maker. None are there.
Thus the small guarantee mark has been struck for another reason than guarantying a product made by a French silversmith. The only reason I can see is that this item could have been considered as an old item of unknown provenance by the Paris assay office. As such it should have been hallmarked with the axe mark devoted to this function, but it was too small and the assayer chose to hallmark it with the guarantee mark for small items.
Thus I am looking for the possible provenance of this spoon. Considering the shape of the maker's mark, and more specifically the presence of two points above and below the letters, I am wondering if this maker could be British, because I have seen some British maker's marks with the same elements (letters and points above and below). By the way have these points the same meaning than the 2 points seen in ancient French marks (grains de remède): the tolerance in the silver purity allowed to them ?
This British hypothesis would imply that other british marks like the lion are present, but I have seen examples where only the maker's mark was present. If this hypothesis is good, then could someone identify this maker? The letters are most probably AH, but they could also be HV or HY.
As for the last mark, I have no idea of its contents. It looks like an eagle or something composed with different blobs. It is very tiny, about 1.2 millimeters in diameter. Suggestions for its content and origin would be appreciated.
Finally does someone know the possible usage of such a spoon?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Dinio