18th century hallmarks on a letter opener/hook

PHOTOS REQUIRED - marks + item
pmp
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 5:23 am

18th century hallmarks on a letter opener/hook

Postby pmp » Tue Sep 27, 2016 5:51 am

The following object was transformed from being a CROCHET DE LA CHATELAINE A CISEAUX (scissor hook) to be a COUPE PAPIER (letter opener). What can I learn from the hallmarks?

I figured out the A (front), it's for Paris 1783-1789, so 18th century.

Then there are

- P C and a portal or fortress or tower (front)
- A D and a dot (back)
- a head of something (back)

Thanks for your help.

Front:
Image

Back:
Image

A:
Image

P C symbol:
Image

A D dot:
Image

Head:
Image

anikopol
contributor
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 11:24 am

Re: 18th century hallmarks on a letter opener/hook

Postby anikopol » Tue Sep 27, 2016 6:22 am

Hi,

Some comments :
- the "P.C" mark is a silversmith mark, but does not look like the mark of a silversmith of Paris itself (two letters instead of the three letters which were common on parisian mak in 18e c.). It could be the mark for a silversmith of Paris region (Ile-de-France)
- The "AD" mark is a silversmith mark for period from 1798 to nowadays
- the last mark is a minerva, for period from 1838 to nowadays, prooving that the silver purity is 800/1000.

pmp
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 5:23 am

Re: 18th century hallmarks on a letter opener/hook

Postby pmp » Tue Sep 27, 2016 9:25 am

Aha, thank you for your reply.

The AD-mark and the Minerve-mark have most likely been added when the CROCHET was transformed to be a COUPE. Interesting.


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