Help Identifying Hallmark

[Buckleboy]

Hello All,

I am a metal detectorist who lives in South Louisiana. I dug several pieces of this spoon and was wondering if any of you could help me identify the hallmarks and maker, or at least nationality and approximate time frame. The site this piece was dug at was in use from 1780-1840. I am posting two photos of this mark. Unfortunately this is just a handle portion of the spoon, but I have the end of the handle as well, and I frequently find enough of these items over time to have the pieces reconstructed. The letters are "S" (star) "F" or a weak "E" (star) and a third letter is barely visible before the break in the item (an O, C, or G?). I am not certain of the number of letters in th mark, nor am I certain of the orientation of the hallmarks in the photos, though I hope that they might provide a time frame and nationality for the origin of this piece. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Buckleboy]

UPDATE: As it turns out, the letters are "S * F * C"

One of the handle pieces I dug was an exact match to the piece I posted earlier.

[dognose]

Hi Buckleboy,

Welcome to the Forum.

Can you try to capture a sharper, larger image of the small mark below the 'Crowned T' mark. This may well help someone identify the origin of the spoon.

Trev.

[Buckleboy]

Hello Trev,

I will try to get a clearer photo. So far, the photo I posted in reply #2 is the best I can do with my camera.

Best wishes,

Buck

[Buckleboy]

I think these photos will be better:

[WesternPA]

Hi,

The marks appear to be pre-Revolutionary (pre-1789) French. I will check my references to see what city or jurisdiction might be a good candidate.

Cheers!

[WesternPA]

By the way, the stamped initials (the "S" and "F" and any similar stamped letters) would be for the owner, and the stars between are merely decorative. The other marks are true French hallmarks.

[oel]

Just to kick the ball; French pitcher, perhaps Poitiers 1780-1789 for assayer Clavel, Crowned T mark of the Maison Commune for 1782. Let us wait for our French contributors!

Regards,

Oel.

[Buckleboy]

That is incredible. My wife recovered a French 1792 Two Sol Copper coin from that field as well! I am going to research the genealogy of the land to find the property owner name and see if it is a match for "S. F. C."

[blakstone]

The mark at the broken end of the stem is the medium charge mark for the city of Paris under the tenure of tax farmer Henri Clavel (1781-1789): an interlaced script "LL". The crowned "T" is the Paris guild warden's annual mark in use July 1782-July 1783. The "ewer" mark is actually a somewhat rare mark also used by Clavel in place of the usual "décharge" mark indicating that the piece was destined for export out of France (in this case presumably Louisiana which, despite its resolutely French culture, was at the time under Spanish rule). There should also be a maker's mark, probably on the missing bits. Nice find! Keep us posted on your efforts to identify "SFC"!

[Buckleboy]

Thank you so much for your help, blakstone. I am currently researching the property in the hopes of identifying "SFC." After the field is plowed again for sugar cane I will metal detect it again in the hopes of finding the spoon bowl which will hopefully have the maker's mark.

Best Wishes and a Happy New Year to you,

Buckleboy