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Who is this silversmith?
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 1:06 pm
by Smokanabeach
Hi again!
Here is a french silver made coin holder. I don't find anything about its silversmith "PF & F": could you help me?
Many thanks!
Don
Re: Who is this silversmith?
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 1:39 pm
by dognose
Hi Don,
Please show all of the marks.
Trev.
Re: Who is this silversmith?
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 2:33 pm
by Smokanabeach
You may reconize the franch crab for export silver made items
Re: Who is this silversmith?
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 8:42 pm
by blakstone
The crab is not an export mark, but rather the minimum silver fineness guarantee for small items made in the French provinces from 1838 (and in all of France from 1962, when it replaced the Parisian boar's head mark). Your piece looks to be earlier than 1962 though - I'd say 1920s - and therefore the first step in identifying the maker is narrowing it to which département it was assayed in. The distinguishing mark of the assay office is located in the crab mark between its lower (swimming) legs, but it can be very, very difficult to discern without a sharp, magnified image.
Re: Who is this silversmith?
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 12:09 pm
by Smokanabeach
Sorry for this mistake about the ''head of boar'' , Blackstone. Confusion with the Spawn hallmark... Anyway, i tried to take a better picture of the crab mark but unfortunately it is not clear enough to find out the provincial mark...