oyster fork?

[Rayvenini]

i'm sure it's an oyster fork, it measures 5.25" long, one side of the prongs has a sharp edge, there's a nice little motif thats been egraved or punched, could it be one of the kings of France, looking for a date and maker if possible....thanks

click image

[Bahner]

Hello, maker is Coignet from Paris. I have no further info on it. Best wishes, Bahner

[Rayvenini]

thanks Bahner

[SilverSurfer]

Hi! Though I can't identify the insect, the stamp you show below the AC maker's mark appears to be a bigorne, which, if so, should be immediately opposite the Minerva head stamp (they are struck simultaneously). You can search this site for "bigorne", or else read the following thread that addresses this stamp:

http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... ht=bigorne

The use of the bigorne counterstamp was instituted May 9, 1838 (Tardy). I don't know if/when it may have been retired.

SS

[Rayvenini]

thanks SS

yep the bigorne is opposite the Minerva head stamp , now you say it's an insect mark , could it be a praying mantis?

[SilverSurfer]

Yes, may well be a praying mantis, that was my original impression, but wasn't sure enough to say. If interested in this stamp, get a Tardy's (author/collector) "International Hallmarks On Silver", available in paperback for a reasonable price, see pp. 212-217. There were three sizes of bigorne stamps (all huge), and up to 21 different insects on each, two views each insect (side view for Paris, top view for provinces), separated by chevrons such as the one that appears at the top of your mark. Just the most incredibly over-the-top stamp ever devised, as far as I know. Leave it to the bureaucratic French. Only one small piece of the stamp was used for each item marked.

SS