Unknown Maker of French Box

[dognose]

Hi,

I've been sent some images by a friend trying to identify the maker of this silver box:






The mark appears to be JH or JN, either side of a symbol, maybe a skull and cross-bones? The marks are very small indeed.








Any thoughts appreciated.

Trev.

[JayT]

Hi Trev
Best guess is Jean-Nicolas Hollegraff, working in Paris, first at 6 rue Montorgueil from 11 december 1850 to 6 January 1860. His mark at that address was JH with two olives attached at their stems (deux olives attachées à la tige) At his first address he is listed as a jeweller.

Hollegraff’s second mark, which this resembles more closely, is JH with 2 olives attached on crossed branches (deux olives attachées à leur branche). This mark was entered on 16 January 1860; no end date is given. He was then working at 17 rue Royer-Collard where he made religious objects. If this is indeed Hollegraff’s work, then your object is a pyx.

See Arminjon, V. II, p. 237, no. 02533 and no. 02535.

[dognose]

Hi JayT,

Many thanks for your thoughts regarding this maker, they are appreciated.

Trev.

[JayT]

My pleasure.