www.925-1000.com

Hi, can any one tell me anything about these forks. I have 7 and 1 slightly smaller one. Each is 93g and 21.5 cm long. They all have what I presume is Mercury in an octagonal mark. Some have a Hares head in another mark. Maker appears to be A F with what looks like a feather between the A and the F. On the reverse is a heavy gauge monogram. Also on the reverse of each fork is a strange insect like mark. Appreciated. Gary




I have tried to upload images but it keeps saying not able to determine size of image. hope they come up….

The quality of your pictures certainly doesn't make this easy. The Mercury head mark in left-facing profile in an octagonal reserve is a French export mark for 950 standard silver, in use from 1840-1879. The insect mark opposite the Mercury head is the bigorne countermark. If you use the search function you will find a lot of information about the bigorne. The hare head in right-facing profile in an octagonal reserve is a re-importation mark in use from 1888. The maker is Auguste Fraumont working in Paris at 51 rue Neuve-des-Petits-Champs, registered 1855. See Arminjon v. I, no. 00236, p.45.
Hope this helps.

Thanks JayT, appreciated. I think I may need to save up for a better camera. I will get on to looking up the bigorne mark. Cheers again for having a look. Gary

My pleasure.

think I have worked out the images :0)

Hi, looking at the above images of the crest on the back of the fork, can anyone identify the crest. I thought I read something on another post about dots above the crown indicating aristocratic ranking, but I'm not sure, cheers, gary

Hello,
A few more details regarding the silversmith Auguste Fraumont :
Mark registered 21 July 1855
N° de garantie : 5973
N° de préfecture : 6161
Symbol : an ear of wheat

Your fork shows a monogram topped by a coronet. This tells you the owner had a noble rank, but without a coat of arms it would be very difficult to determine the exact family name unless you had good provenance for this item.

The design of a coronet shows the rank of its owner, with each country having its own traditions. In France, five spikes (3 taller, 2 shorter) each topped with a pearl indicate viscount, a lower-middle noble rank. But as this flatware was made in France for export to another country, it could be another rank altogether depending on where it was exported. Sorry I can’t be more specific.

Thanks JayT, grateful for your input. Appreciated. Thanks again for your help, Gary

You're welcome Gary.

Thanks Zilver2, appreciated. gary