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There are some really unusual marks on this tea strainer. While there is no Minerva's head, the over all look is French. However, some of the marks look almost Arabic. Does anyone have a clue? Thanks for looking! Tom

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... inypic.jpg

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... inypic.jpg

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... inypic.jpg

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... nypic1.jpg

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... nypic1.jpg

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... nypic2.jpg

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... nypic2.jpg

Hi,
The maker's mark belongs to Pierre-François Queillé, 70 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, Paris.
Active from 1834 till 1846.
N° de garantie : 3380
N° de préfecture : 3527
Symbol : an antique oar
First successor : Eugène Queillé (1847-1895)
Second successor : Antoine Lappparra (1895-1902)
The 'Arabic' marks are in fact countermarks named Bigorne (insect figures), which are punched opposite the Minerva mark. The Bigorne marks were used from 1838 til 1984.

Hello, Zilver2!

Thank you so very much for your very valuable information. It is good to get some history on this piece. Can you please tell me the meaning of:

N° de garantie : 3380
N° de préfecture : 3527

Because of your excellent tutelage, I was able to find and photograph two markings of the Minerva head on the tea strainer that I had missed, one as you said just opposite the Bigorne marks and one on one of the three legs of the strainer - the leg closest to the Minerva mark on the body of the strainer. I am including some pictures for you to see.

Is the large symbol in between the 'P' and the 'Q' on the marker's mark that of the antique oar that you spoke of?

Do you think the approximate year of manufacture of this tea strainer would be somewhere from 1838 (the year of use of the first Bigorne mark) to 1846 (the last year that Pierre-François Queillé ws active)?

Thanks so VERY much for your invaluable help!

Tom

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... G_7783.jpg

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... G_7770.jpg

http://s1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd4 ... G_7778.jpg

Hello again,
Each silversmith and/or jeweller in France is registered in the town in which the administration of a department is located. The préfecture refers to the town .
The maker has to submit his mark (consisting of his initials and a 'différent' or symbol).
The administration registers his mark and gives both numbers (garantie and préfecture). This way he is officially recorded as being active as siversmith and/or jeweller.
For Pierre Queillé the large symbol between the letters P and Q symbolises an antique oar (in French une rame antique).
The time span of manufacture lies indee between 1838 and 1846.
Hope this helps you.

This helps enormously! I now have a much better understanding of the origin of one of my favorite tea strainers. If only I had as clear a story on the other 199 in the collection!! Thank you so very much for your concise explanation of the symbols found on this piece. I hope that some time, I will be able to help you as much as you have helped me.

My very best regards!

Tom