www.925-1000.com

Good afternoon,

This is my first post on this forum. What a great place!

We have an old silver oil and vinegar set. We would really want to know more about It. We believe It's a french one, but we aren't sure. Can anybody tell us more about It. In particular the maker / master, JJL or JLJ.

Thanks in advance. Kind regards,

- DamaMo-

Hello and welcome to the forums!

Your oil & vinegar cruet was made in the French provinces between 1798 and 1809 of .950 silver. The silver standard mark is the rooster in an octagonal reserve with the head facing left and the number one under the tail of the bird. The face of a man in a circular reserve is the guarantee mark, with the numbers on either side of the head indicating the province. I read 38 for the department of the Landes. Unfortunately I don't have good resources for all the French provinces; perhaps someone else can help with the maker's mark in the lozenge-shaped reserve.

Thank you very much for your fast reply!

The numbers are a 3 and a 6,so the number for the department is 36 sorry but the marks are so small. Hope somebody can tell us more about the maker. We're very curious. :-)

Regards, Damamo

Thanks for the update. Grenoble is 36, so the maker of your cruet was from Grenoble. The initials are read JJL, and the symbol appears to be a fish of some kind. It might take some time to find the maker. Good luck!

Thanks again ! Again a step further (-:

Hope there will be someone who recognizes the maker.

Regards, DamaMo

Unfortunately, I can't identify the maker, but feel I should point out that the provincial assay office identification numbers, or différents, corresponded to the official Département numbers and changed with them. In the 1798-1809 period when this was made, "36" was the différent of the assay office in Bordeaux (Gironde Dépt.); it did not become the différent for the Grenoble (Isère Dépt.) office until the 1819-1838 cycle of marks.

Hope this helps!

Blakstone, also thank you for your effort. It isn't easy, we will keep searching.

Regard, DamaMo