French (?) Travel Set

[emmetcs]

I have a travel set in vermeil, 22 pieces in mahogany case, purchased 35 years ago in Belgium. I was led to believe at the time that it was French. I have studied the hallmarks and suppose it to be French 1819-1838 but I cannot find the maker whose initials appear to be P. NB Above the P.NB within a diamond are what appear to be 3 ducks? Any help appreciated with maker or possible dates.

http://picasaweb.google.com/emmetcs2/TravelSet#5384711465753553746

http://picasaweb.google.com/emmetcs2/TravelSet#5384722734940862082

many thanks, ECS

[blakstone]

Very nice set!

Not ducks but "hirondelles" - swallows. The maker is Pierre-Noël Blaquière, whose mark first appeared on an insculpation plate dating from 1803-04. He was a maker of traveling tea, dining, toilette and writing sets, working at 174 rue St.-Honoré, Paris. There is no recorded cancellation date for his mark, but he was still listed in the early 1820's - the time that this Restauration-era set was made.

Hope this helps!

[emmetcs]

Thanks very much for the prompt response. Impressive and very helpful especially since we were told by the dealer 35 years ago that it was made by Odiot(!) which seemed odd as there were no marks which even came close to Odiot. Anyway, many many thanks for your input.

Interestingly, of the 22 pieces some have one mark, some two, some three, always the same but sometimes the top, sometimes the bottom of a piece, as if the silversmith was in a great hurry to put the marks on without too much thought as to where or in what order to make the marks...

ECS