www.925-1000.com

Seems to have been passed down a few generations, looks like a monogram of CS and maybe an initial of S with the dates 1820, 1865 and 1905. Pretty cool, eh? As far as the hallmarks go, I recognize the standard, rooster with the 1 on the right as Paris 1798-1809.The guarantee is very poorly struck or very worn, but know what it "should" look like. The maker stumps me; depending on how it's supposed to be read, it could be P N S or P S N with two stars on each side of ??? I suppose it's possible the "N" could be an "M" or "W" as well, but leaning towards "N". There may or may not be a pellet between the P and N.
https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/139924698_10225248407626948_1719768523158226134_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=OudOuBFyf1YAX9yLos_&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=632a37c8bb491c31da1c98a4dff8b446&oe=6028E8DC

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/140263655_10225248406266914_8584492857336066043_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=nc-XLeQtaMoAX-px9cq&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=79730ada7bb601ce00db3d734c55747d&oe=60291F50

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/139910959_10225248405826903_3330860426436867647_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=GqsOo-6yUTwAX_RW-HM&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=90e7300802683441776c80bcdb502575&oe=60280A0F

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/140065899_10225248405866904_3385813542407009321_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=OHMY1KKYfW4AX-F6CIS&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=e7e07f7505e79896520d0546cd5d9c88&oe=602AE198

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/r270/140050853_10225248406666924_2397688916075426871_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=xkwUg7bBnvoAX8qX1RZ&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=18a977955b8aa9fd4dc8fc99093cf662&oe=602B8155

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/r270/139797739_10225248406466919_1603001797057441853_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=Ph-BuLErOAIAX8QFv_4&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=4ea328a11994a6a32e1f1ecc568e589e&oe=6029E8F0

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/r270/140023460_10225248406906930_7979529923580527498_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=2&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=HFGU_UCocfwAX_ip7M2&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=b12b2db47033fd3151b3059024aff742&oe=602B082F

Sorry the links are so long. :(

Oh, as a side note, when looking at the marks with the rooster being right-side-up, the makers mark is upside down. :D

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Peter.

Hello
Your fork in the Uniplat pattern was made by Pierre-Nicolas Sommé, initials PNS, symbol an acorn with 2 stars on either side (un gland et une étoile de chaque côté). At about 19 cm in length, this is likely a dessert fork (fourchette à entremets) rather than a dinner fork.

Sommé, a flatware maker, had a long and distinguished career, starting in pre-Revolutionary times. He first registered a mark in 1760. This third mark of Sommé’s was registered in 1800, erased before 30 September 1806. He retired to Versailles, where he died on 15 July 1809.

See Arminjon, v. I, no. 0348, p. 300.

Please use the Search function in the upper right hamd corner of this page using the term Sommé for a number of posts that will give you background info about this maker’s early career.

In addition to the maker’s mark, you have the silver standard mark of a standing cock facing left in an octagonal reserve, in use in Paris from 1798-1809. The guarantee mark is there, but indeed very rubbed. The maker’s mark and the silver standard mark stamped “head to head” was how the charge mark and the date letter mark were done in the pre-Revolutionary marking system, and Sommé was definitely old school, and hadn’t adapted his practice to 19th C ways.

You have a small window when this fork was made: between 1800 when Sommé registered this mark, and 1806 when he retired.

You also have a very rubbed personalization of a monogram, and 3 engraved dates, obviously of some importance to the owner. The fork has been well used, but cared for, as the tines have been sharpened.

Thank you for showing this object. It is very interesting to see Sommé’s last mark.

Regards.

Oh wow, thank you so much for all that information! I googled his name and hit a link at monticello.org. Thomas Jefferson owned some cutlery that he made, he documented that he bought it in Paris. He brought it back to America and used it for the rest of his life. If anybody is interested in reading the article: https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/table-forks-somme . Fascinating!

My pleasure to help.