Postby Francais » Tue Sep 03, 2013 3:57 pm
I would hope JayT will see this post as this is really more his area of expertise, I really am better with early French silver. Having said that if I understand the question, the second mark shown, just below the maker's mark is not so much a mark as a counter mark. This is described thoroughly in Tardy, I think I may have read it once. So the piece is put on a "bigorne", basically an anvil with bands of very small figures mostly of insects. The Minerva guarantee mark is then punched into the piece, which at the same time stamps the reverse side of the piece with one of the insects. This counter mark, if you can read it, should tell where the piece was made. Personally I think the counter marks are so small and similar I never pay any attention to them, probably because I am rarely interested in where a piece, after 1838, comes from. I do find it useful as it makes the guarantee mark devilishly difficult to fake. Also if you have an extremely ornate piece like a goblet and you think it is French, and can't find the guarantee or maker's mark around the rim, you just look inside for the counter mark. I hope this helps.
Maurice
