I need help with a french spoon from early 19th century

[R ingo]

Hello,
can someone help me with this marks? It seems to me, that the marks are from different times?

Kind regards,
Ringo
X

[R ingo]

Hello,
I have learnd a little about french marks in the internet. The cock and the "moyenne Garantie"-mark were used from 1798 - 1809 and the maker is Francois Daniel Imlin ( 1757-1827) from Strassbourg.

Is it possible to date the spoon more precise?

Wy the spoon was later (between 1819 and 1838) marked again?

Kind regards,
Ringo

[blakstone]

The spoon dates to the period of the earliest marks: 1798-1809. Each time a new series of marks was introduced, France conducted a brief period wherein all silver bearing the old marks could be struck with a special “census” mark exempting the pieces from duty. After this brief “census” period, however, the old marks were considered invalid and any item presented for sale which bore neither the new marks nor the most recent census mark was considered unmarked and subject to duty.

As your spoon does not bear the "census" mark for 1809 or 1819, it was considered unmarked when offered for re-sale sometime between 1819 and 1838. It was thus re-assayed, subjected to the appropriate duty, and struck with the then-current (1819-1838) marks.

Note, however, that it does bear the next census mark - the giraffe’s head - used at the introduction of the 1838 marks; this suggests it was still in the hands of the dealer who had paid the re-marking duty and who was doubtless eager to avoid having to pay it yet again!

[R ingo]

Hello blakstone,
I thank you very much for your help and interesting informations. I have one last question:
What means the mark on the frontside of the stem/ handle? I have a younger Minerva marked teaspoon, made after 1838, wich is also marked on the same place (with insects).

Kind regards,
Ringo

[blakstone]

It's called a "bigorne" mark (sometimes "counter-mark"), and it was essentially an anti-counterfeiting device introduced in 1819. These marks - a wide variety of very detailed insects - were engraved all over a small anvil ("bigorne"); an item to be marked was placed on the anvil so that when the guarantee punch was struck on one side, the force of the strike would cause the insects on the bigorne to be impressed at the same time on the opposite side. (You'll notice these marks are thus always exactly opposite the guarantee mark.)

Like I say, it was essentially an anti-counterfeiting device, the minute detail of the insects being difficult for a faker or duty dodger to reproduce. The bigornes came in different sizes, each with different engravings. A second series was introduced in 1838, and this series was further distinguished by having one set of bigornes for Paris and another for the Provinces. (Only the smallest bigorne in 1819 was so differentiated.)

Use of the bigornes was discontinued in 1984.

[R ingo]

Hello blakstone,
many thanks for your helpful informations.

Kind regards,
Ringo

[hugo keymeulen]

hallo from the Flanders
this is a spoon from strasbourg,master imlin
the 65 number is for the region strasbourg 1819-1838
the cocq2 is for 1798-1809 departements
this is second title 800/1000 silver most used in strasbourg
The crowned I is also the Imlin mark
the other mark with 79 is for colmar in the region of strasbourg 1798-1809

[R ingo]

Hello hugo keymeulen,
many thanks for your interesting informations and best greetings to the flanders.

Kind regards,
Ringo