French Fork Mercury and Hare Head maker ?AF

[populous38]

Hi, can any one tell me anything about these forks. I have 7 and 1 slightly smaller one. Each is 93g and 21.5 cm long. They all have what I presume is Mercury in an octagonal mark. Some have a Hares head in another mark. Maker appears to be A F with what looks like a feather between the A and the F. On the reverse is a heavy gauge monogram. Also on the reverse of each fork is a strange insect like mark. Appreciated. Gary




I have tried to upload images but it keeps saying not able to determine size of image. hope they come up….

[JayT]

The quality of your pictures certainly doesn't make this easy. The Mercury head mark in left-facing profile in an octagonal reserve is a French export mark for 950 standard silver, in use from 1840-1879. The insect mark opposite the Mercury head is the bigorne countermark. If you use the search function you will find a lot of information about the bigorne. The hare head in right-facing profile in an octagonal reserve is a re-importation mark in use from 1888. The maker is Auguste Fraumont working in Paris at 51 rue Neuve-des-Petits-Champs, registered 1855. See Arminjon v. I, no. 00236, p.45.
Hope this helps.

[populous38]

Thanks JayT, appreciated. I think I may need to save up for a better camera. I will get on to looking up the bigorne mark. Cheers again for having a look. Gary

[JayT]

My pleasure.

[populous38]

think I have worked out the images :0)

[populous38]

Hi, looking at the above images of the crest on the back of the fork, can anyone identify the crest. I thought I read something on another post about dots above the crown indicating aristocratic ranking, but I'm not sure, cheers, gary

[Zilver2]

Hello,
A few more details regarding the silversmith Auguste Fraumont :
Mark registered 21 July 1855
N° de garantie : 5973
N° de préfecture : 6161
Symbol : an ear of wheat

[JayT]

Your fork shows a monogram topped by a coronet. This tells you the owner had a noble rank, but without a coat of arms it would be very difficult to determine the exact family name unless you had good provenance for this item.

The design of a coronet shows the rank of its owner, with each country having its own traditions. In France, five spikes (3 taller, 2 shorter) each topped with a pearl indicate viscount, a lower-middle noble rank. But as this flatware was made in France for export to another country, it could be another rank altogether depending on where it was exported. Sorry I can’t be more specific.

[populous38]

Thanks JayT, grateful for your input. Appreciated. Thanks again for your help, Gary

[JayT]

You're welcome Gary.

[populous38]

Thanks Zilver2, appreciated. gary