Minerva Hallmark and other (carving knife and fork)

[hmvkj]

The knife and fork have the Minerva Hallmark (in the online encyclopedia it is under the french small guarantee 50 %. What does it mean? 50% silver?
On the other side of both is what looks like a bird (swan or other, longer legs than the image under small guarantee and head to the right), next to it is the letter B (on the fork, on the knife it looks like the letter P.
The teeth of the fork and the carving part of the knife are a bit rusty, can I change them or should I keep them in the original state?

A second fork has the letters MC with a small thing before it which I cannot see clearly (small diamond form??)

Than I have the handle of spoon or other which has a B in a star and on the other side a small rectangular mark?

Thanks for any help
Heidi

[hmvkj]

Sorry do not know if I can modify my message, having examined the hallmark again I can conclude it is the Minerva with a 1 next to it so lucky me the 950 °/oo.

But still would like to find out what the other marks might mean.

Thanks
Heidi

[frenchie_myriam]

Hello Heidi,

Definately French silver 950. The mark in the losange is is the maker's mark. If you could be more specific on the "small thing" I could tell you who the maker is as there is 16 possibilities with MC. Globally speaking, it would be preferable to have pictures because as per your description it seems that there are different makers involved.

Please do post some pictures and I shall try to find for you.

Best Regards
Myriam

[hmvkj]

Dear Myriam,

I tried but impossible (for me) to make a picture. I am specially interested in the carving set both on the knife and the fork are the Minerva and the bird (swan or something, head to the right with close to the bird the letter B on the one and what seems P on the other.

Another meatcarving fork with MC (or even MO) has a small square or diamond form left of the letters.

Then for the other object I would love to know what the B in the star (the whole in a striped square means (I have the same mark on another fork).

Greatful for any help!
Heidi

[frenchie_myriam]

Dear Heidi, The swan with the letter P could mean it had been imported in Paris.

Regarding the MC mark could you please confirm that it is in a losange form.

Best Regards
Myriam

[hmvkj]

Dear Myriam,

Thanks for your help, yes indeed it is in a losange form.

Regards
Heidi

[frenchie_myriam]

Dear Heidi,

We can reasonnably say that it has been made by Marius COSSON, 10 rue Roli, Paris who was registered on 15.03.1911.

The hallmark is MC with a diamand containing a dot.

So I guess it could be this one.

Hope I could help

Best Regards
Myriam

[frenchie_myriam]

Dear Heidi,

Regarding the B mark in a star. Is it contained in a diamond shape ?

If yes, it can be the hallmark for Eugene BERTHET of Joinville Le Pont near Paris who was registered on 23.10.1908 and stopped operation on 11.06.1913,

Best Regards
Myriam

[hmvkj]

Miriam thanks for all your help. No the B in the star is positioned in a striped square.
Regards
Heidi