Purpose of a French (medical?) tool?

[zilverik]

Hi,

This is a French piece of flatware, wich i think it has a medical function. The makersmark I was no able to make a good picture of. It is badly struck and/or worn. The makersmark is positionend in a vertical way. That makes it probably somewhat earlier than horizontal. In the makersmark I see a B (left) and a crown. The other letter(s) are gone. Maybe Bourdet & Barret 1847-1851? Hard to tell.
My question is: what is the purpose of this tool?

Regards,

Zilverik

http://i55.tinypic.com/259ed6x.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/357f60w.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/b4b2mb.jpg

[Zilver2]

Hi,
I do not know what the medical tool is.
The maker's mark belongs in my opinion to Boyer-Callot,30 rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie Paris (1865).
The symbol is the stem of a lily of the valley (muguet).

[zilverik]

Hi Zilver2,

Thank you for that information. Where did you found this makersmark?

Regards,

Zilverik

[Zilver2]

Hi Zilverik,
I once found the info on internet. The site referred to a n° 00667 in a book.
Sorry, but the symbol I mentionned is not a lily of the valley but 'AN EARLS CROWN OVER A CHALICE' (un calice surmonté d'une couronne).
Further details :
Auguste Boyer & François Callot
30 rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, Paris
Year of registration : 13 September 1865
N° de garantie : 7655
N° de préfecture : 7899
Successor to Eusèbe Callot
Regards

[zilverik]

Hi Zilver2,

Thank you. I missed that mark. It is under number 00667 in my own book: Dictionnaire des poincons de fabricants d'ouvrages d'or et d'argent, Paris 1838-1875. Cahiers de l'nventaire 1994. ISBN 2-11-081343-1.
I think I missed it because the mark the way I saw it is vertical and the mark in the book is horizontal. Most probably the same makersmark.

Regards,

Zilverik