Jean E. Puiforcat Letter Opener - Sterling Silver or Plate

[levinll]

I'm try to determine if this letter openers (if that is what this is) handle is made out of sterling or silver plate.

http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... 7b6947.jpg
http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... d24e57.jpg
http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... 4075d6.jpg
http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... 1e916c.jpg

The EP hallmark seems to confirm it was made by Jean Emile Puiforcat, but I am unsure whether that guarantees it's sterling. Their web site seems to indicate she made both sterling and silver plate pieces, so I want to make sure I accurately describe it.

I would also appreciate it if someone could tell me what the C on the handle represents
http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... c05003.jpg

Thank you in advance to all who respond to my post.

[Francais]

Hi
The lozenge , or incorrectly called diamond, shaped maker's mark is that used by silversmiths for .800 or .950 fine silver. The other mark in not a C but a poorly struct 6 sided .950 modern guarantee mark. Unless it is very poorly struct, you should be able to see an A or a 1 in the lower left hand corner. This would narrow down the date.

Maurice

[levinll]

Maurice,

Thank you for the wealth of information you have provided.

Even using a loupe I see no letter or # in the lower left hand corner(as you suggested).

So is it safe to say this letter opener is not sterling, but .95 pure silver ?

Would you gather to estimate the time period when this was made ?

Thanks again.

Lloyd

[Francais]

Hi,
I actually mis-spoke. If it has an 1 in the lower left hand corner it would be .950 fine until 1973. However, if after that it would have an a in the corner and could be .925. The shape of the cartouche would be slightly different in that the lower two lines wouldn't be exactly the same length, the one on the right would be slightly longer. As poorly struck as your mark is, I am not sure you could tell.
If you go to this page of the forum http://www.925-1000.com/Ffrench_marks.html You will see the earlier mark toward the upper corner,
above the label Mercury. They don't show the later mark.
Maurice

[levinll]

Thanks again for all your help.

[JayT]

I think your knife is either an individual dinner knife or a fruit / dessert knife depending on the length. It is the Trouville pattern, first designed in 1937 by Jean E. Puiforcat, and no longer in production.

Jean-Elisée Puiforcat (1897-1945) designed silver in the Art Deco style for the Puiforcat family firm. His French-made silver creations are always stamped Jean E. Puiforcat in addition to the regular Puiforcat makers’ mark - EP in a lozenge separated by the symbol of a pen knife. During the years of WW II he worked in Mexico, using another mark.

Your handle of your knife is made of 950 standard silver for export as shown by the poorly stamped Mercury head mark (you call it a C). The Mercury head mark was used from 1919-1984. Your knife does not date from the period when Jean E. Puiforcat was alive, as shown by the Made in France stamp on the blade. My guesstimate is that it dates from 1950-1970.

Hope this helps.

[levinll]

Wow ! Thanks again for all your help !

[JayT]

My pleasure.