French colonial AB and IB

[Francais]

Again these were bought at the same place, and are similar. The outlaying marks suggests that the IB is American. Much like the previous posting, they could be European.
Maurice

[Francais]

There are general similarities, and some differences. The AB is slightly smaller, but both are rather heavier than anglo produced American spoons. In fact the east coast rarely produced forks at all, until much later in the 19th c. Whereas the French "couvert" in the Mississippi Valley usually consisted of a large heavy spoon and fork, and sometimes a smaller spoon. The AB has shoulders, usually corresponding to a later piece, but not always in French silver, also it has a drop, usually associated with earlier pieces. The engraving on the IB piece, sorry I don't have a better picture, looks more European. Finally the marks are quite different in style. IB could easily be American with the two outlaying marks. The AB seems to have some play on words or hidden symbol involved. The shell is a symbol of the pilgrimage to St. Jacques de Compostelle. So perhaps the silversmith's name was A... Jacques B.... or A. B. Jacques. Then just for the sake of confusion is the lozenge mark that looks a bit like a blackamoor head. I have no idea who the silversmith might be, but I bet his name will be obvious if someone comes up with a candidate.
Maurice.

[wev]

Or he was just a fan of rebuses named A_ Shelby. . . I doubt either is American.