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I Think these Tongs are French - Need Help Please

Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 4:24 pm
by ca_kjblack
These lovely tongs are small - 7 inches long and 2 inches wide at widest point. The problem I'm having is with the marks. They are stamped with a very tiny mark - might be the French Boar?? - even under my loop, I can't tell for sure. This stamp is on both sides of the "Scissors". It is also marked on one side with 800 and then either a stylized GR in a circle or CR in a circle.

I can't get a good enough photo of the tiny marks - does anyone recognize the style or the rose pattern or the marks? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Many Thanks!
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 5:00 pm
by frenchie_myriam
Hello,

Through the description of the marks you found on this lovely sugar tongs, I doubt it is French because you will not find any marks as 800 because this is already told by the shape of title mark. On the other hand the maker's mark on french silver must be by a law dating back to 1838, in a diamond shape.

The marks you describe are crying Spanish silver. I think the mark you cannot see well could simply be a star in a round shape and the GR mark could say it originates from Grenada city. the 800 marks is a normal mark on spanish silver.

Couldn't you post some pictures of the marks, even if they are not totally clear, just to confirm my feeling.

Hope I could help

Best Regards
Myriam

RE: Silver Tongs

Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 8:52 pm
by ca_kjblack
Thank you Miryam for your information. I will borrow my brother's camera (it's much better) and try to get some photos that will at least show something of the markings. I will post them by Friday if they turn out. Again - thanks a lot!
Regards, Kirsten