Christofle Demitasse Spoons, Plated?

[Vahn]

I Have 12 Numbered Spoons I'm willing to bet they are silver plated BUT they don't have those square numbers ( telling the depth of the plating ) but i can't find any more info on these spoons. I'm also curious why they are numbered, some one told me it was for a game or something for that. any information on these spoons is greatly appreciated.

~Vahn

[dognose]

Hi Vahn,

Welcome to the Forum.

Check out these two articles:

http://www.925-1000.com/a_christofle.html

http://www.925-1000.com/a_platenumbers.html

Trev.

[Vahn]

thanks a lot for the info, but I'm not sure, to my understanding the french mark the silver plate with a number in a square ( i can't really make out the other mark in the spoon with my magnifying glass. ) but I'm pretty sure its something like a bird or phoenix lol

~Vahn

[admin]

Hi,
They are silverplate. The French sometimes mark silverplate with a number to indicate plate thickness, not always. Silverplater's marks are always in a rectangular cartouche, silversmith's marks are in a diamond (lozenge) cartouche. For a comparison, the Christofle article shows this company's marks for both silver and silverplate.

Regards, Tom

[silverport]

Hello all who be interested in «Plated»

It seems to me that in every forum on Plate exists a fertile error like a virus:

That is in general absolutely wrong that punched numerical are an indication of silver layer’s thickness!

The numerical indication on plated objects, for their galvanized layer of silver, is only an indication of gram silver is used for this object to be galvanized!

Well, fine silver has a specific volume per gram — and if you use e.g. 90 g fine silver, to galvanize e.g. 12 soup spoon and 12 table fork = ca. 24 square decimetre of surface to be plated, you would get the measure of MEDIUM thickness. But that isn’t 90 micrometer. Nearly all Author write, were copied and rewritten be others.

The information given in Christofel about thickness of plated is absolutely wrong!

The only one in «925-1000» who is very correct and reliable in his information is Jörg Müller-Daehn in his explanation on: «Numerical Marks on German & French Silverplate» - look: http://www.925-1000.com/a_platenumbers.html

Regulated in Germany in June 1969 by RAL 691B3 for silver plated products (e.g. flatware), and RAL 697A for gold plated products.

Also must be indicated by letter type, nature of basic material which is used for to be plated — except its CuNiZn alloy include more then 11 % Ni or is austenitic stainless steel.

Basic material indication letters has to be: CuNiZn alloy (Nickel Silver) with less then 11 % Ni = K; CuZn alloy (Brass) = M; XCrNi alloy (stainless steel) with equal or more then 12 % chromium = R; Fe alloy (iron) = E.

A European regulation until yet is still not realised by reason of several national under miners.

Now a guess on Vahn’s question: «I'm also curious why they are numbered, some one told me it was for a game or something for that. »

Somebody who suggested that they were numbered for a game could be correct.

I’ve seen in Northern European Country that if tea — or coffee - were served, each cup get a different spoon with flowers or a souvenir spoon. Reason: If you like to get more, they take yours cup to a place of service (buffet, kitchen …) and serve then after the same cup to you. Also during a party it’s very usual that guests place their cup somewhere else, talk, and like to find back her cup.

Your spoons aren’t different in shape or surface — except numerical 1 to 12 — for guest and inviter 1 to 12.

Kind regards silverport