Asparagus Server? What?

[Jag]

This is the piece that has me the most confused. First of all, what would this have been used for? Asparagus? Butter? Something else?

And what is it made of? The silver handle is pretty clearly marked with a Minerva head. But the gold head piece has a square hallmark on it. If it were a maker's mark I would expect a diamond not a square. If it had a square with a number I would assume it was showing the plating. But it doesn't look like either to me. Is it possible this is actually gold and not gold wash (there is no wear through the plate if it is plate, not that that means too much). But if so, then what is the mark in the square? This is the best of several pictures I took, but I can try again from a different angle. Also this image is rotated 90 degrees from the Minerva, if that matters. I would love some ideas on this one. Thanks!

[Zilver2]

Hello,
The piece is an asparagus server.
The punch is the maker's mark of the silversmith Léon Jambert, 20 rue Montgolfier, Paris, who entered his mark on 17 October 1919.
N° de garantie : 2884
N° de préfecture : 15634
Symbol : a balloon (une montgolfière)
Kind regards

[Jag]

Ah, thank you! I assumed from the many maker's marks available here on the site that makers marks were always in diamonds. But clearly there are some exceptions. There's always more to learn...

[dognose]

Hi Jag,

I'm a little confused by this one. Is there no maker's mark on the haft? To me, the haft is silver, but the blade is plated.

Trev.

[monte100]

Hi Jag,

According to Tardy's International Hallmarks on Silver the maker's mark on French silver is in a lozenge when the item is of the required fineness of silver. Usually plated items would have the maker's mark in a square or oblong or oval.

[monte100]

Hi Jag,

As to the item, I think it would originally been a part of a set used for serving hors d'oevres. I see a fair few as I live in France and I enclose a link to a recently sold set for you to have a look at.

(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

Cheers

Monte

[Demosthenes]

These asparagus servers are quite common in France. There will be a maker's mark in a lozenge on the haft, which is thin silver filled with resin, and a maker's mark in a square on the brass part. The two maker's marks are not always the same.

[lavenderhoney]

Hi, It all depends on the size of this piece. An asparagus server will be large in size, anywhere from 8" to 10" long with a wide blade to scoop up a portion of horizontally placed asparagus. If this piece is closer to 4" to 6" with a smaller blade, than it is for foie gras and would have been part of a hors d'oeuvre service. Plated items were hallmarked with a small square with a number to indicate the plating. This blade is brass and not plated as it lacks this hallmark. Metal blades were just as common as silver ones, brass is golden in color and just a pretty as gilt vermeil but cost less. Brass and plating were still hallmarked with the maker's mark or initials, but in a square. The maker's marks in the form of a lozenge were reserved for items of gold and silver. Maker's marks in a square or lozenge were helpful in differentiating the materials, too. If the blade had been gold, it would have had a hallmark in the form of an eagle's head or a horse...and you would have been very lucky!

[Vayne]

This is a lovely piece. Funny to think it was designed just for asparagus, not that is isn't worthy of its own instrument! I'd love to see stuff like this made today...but have to see I'd probably use it on everything I could.