Monday February 8th, 2010 Happy, Healthy & Safe 2010. ***Please NOTE
**I am back working and I thank you for your patience**

  WELCOME to my Site...Please look at my 'New Additions' Category above and Please browse my Collection......... Click on any Photo to Enlarge it .........see my Table Bells, Paperweight Collection, my 'French Country House' up for SALE and ......Invest in quality Antiques & enjoy them every day.

'Dictionary' of Hallmarks -Dictionnaire des Poinçons d'Orfèvrerie

FOR SILVER Lovers & Collectors, I have 2 Copies of the 166 page Dictionary of SILVER Hallmarks for French, Brussels, etc. Silversmiths such as Christofle, Puiforcat, Odiot, Gallia etc. as well as a great many lesser known and not so famous French Silversmiths all illustrated including their individual Silver Hallmarks. This Dictionary is Out of Print. The illustrations are easy to Read for anyone since they are Pictures of the Hallmarks and Names of the Silversmiths for both Sterling Silver and Silver Plate. Additionally there are photos of Silver Hallmarks 1798 to the 20th Century. I am offering Copies of this Book for only $33.88 which includes only US Book Postage. Copy is in an expansion Ringed Copy, easy to turn the Pages with room to make Notes. Please See the Heading on the Left, 'Silver & Plate' for Photos. First come first served. Europeans consider this Dictionary, the 'Bible' of French Silversmith Hallmarks! If you need more information, PLEASE, The Photos below of HALLMARKS are in this Book. *** Only 2 copies remaining.

  eMail me to Purchase a Copy or, for more Information. $33.88 includes US Book Rate Postage

History of SILVER - 1986 by 'Arnould de Charette'

If you COLLECT, or just interested in SILVER, I have Copies of the 150 page Book, 'Précis d'Orfèvrerie Ancienne'. Originally printed and Sold out in 1957 and then Reprinted in 1986. Invaluable for Dealers, Collectors and anyone interested in French Silver. The Book, for example, lists the Principal Paris Silversmiths from 1838 to the end of the 19th Century. On P.31, e.g. Charles CHRISTOFLE is featured. Also illustrated are Wine Tasters showing the evolution of design for Wine Tasters. A most interesting Book, well illustrated by an Author extremely well qualified.
SEE Silver & Plate for Photos etc. of this Book. $36.58 On eBay at 36,00 Euros. *Only 2 copies remaining.
 eMail me to Purchase a Copy or, just for more Information.

CHRISTOFLE Hallmarks...some Examples from my 'Dictionary'

***Daily Fakes, Fraud, False &/or Misleading Descriptions on eBay

*** NINA's eBay Tips & Cautions of the Day, FOREWARNED is FOREARMED! ***

***Joyce, BEWARE Item #260542326486. These Christofle are NOT Sterling, but rather Silver Plate,

***Alice, BEWARE Item #390135773618. They are NOT solid Silver, Not 800, but rather Silver Plate,

***Maria, Wine Taster Item #380140982296 is Not Sterling, it is. Plated Silver for $270? Be patient,

Wine Taster Item #380140982296 ASK who is the SILVERSMITH + COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, Could be Mexican!! DON'T BUY STERLING WITHOUT 'HALLMARKS'.

SELLERS who describe 'Condition' as "See Photos" or "Good" or "Normal silver-plating wear" means Nothing! Ask for Exact Condition, after all, you are NOT buying the Photos..

******************
Item #140350837774 is NOT STERLING Susan, it does not have French Silver Hallmarks.

Item #300363786236 Described & Sold as 18thCentury. NOT SO! Someone told Seller it was 18th C and some poor eBayer pd $500

*** SELLER is Selling FAKES along with Genuine Examples. READ Descriptions & Ask Questions. Definitely NOT GALLIA nor Christofle + Not signed! BEWARE!

*** Item #220386718578 is NOT by either Gallia or Christofle!!

*** Item #220396958957 SELLERS like this one that tells you to READ his 'misleading' Description as his way of answering a Qestion about his Description, should be Avoided!!!

*** Item #220386718578 is NOT by either Gallia or Christofle!!

*** on eBay, try to ONLY Buy with Paypal unless you know the Seller or, good luck! SELLERS use STERLING for English, Continental, German & Spanish SILVER and that is a 'misuse' of the Word, Sterling must have at least .925 parts Silver to be called STERLING. Please check Seller's FEEDBACK, If others have had problems with a Seller, what makes you think you are different, so ask questions!

DID YOU KNOW ???

RARE

** One sees all too often in a Description the Noun 'RARE' which has acquired a Secondary Connotation and one should remember the Definition offered by Merriam Webster - "marked by unusual quality, merit or appeal - Distinctive, Uncommon"

SALT

** That SALT which is Sodium Chloride, essential for animal life is Toxic to most land plants. CAREFUL leaving it in your Silver Salt Cellars, risk of corrosion. This is why Salt Cellars have been Gilded or have interior Glass or Crystal Liners. Don't leave Salt between the Liner and Salt Cellar. Have you tried Salt from France, Hawaii, New Zealand?

WINE' - France, where it comes from..

ART DECO
** That the Name, Art Deco is derived from the Famous Exposition des Arts Décoratifs which was held in Paris, France in 1925 and brought about the 2nd Revival of Art following the Art Nouveau Period.

BACCARAT
** The famous and often infamous acid engraved BACCARAT Hallmark only came into existence circa 1936 and before that, Baccarat used stick on Lables with a similar hallmark. These latter labels were lost, washed off, removed etc. and some unsrupulous people use them to deceive. SEE an Example of the Hallmarks under Crystal & Glass. BEWARE!!!

STERLING SILVER
** The minimum SILVER Standard within the U.K. has been historically set at the STERLING standard
(92.5 %) and this is represented by the LION, either PASSANT for English or RAMPANT for Scottish. BEWARE of MEXICAN Silver on eBay with just a '925' Mark, which alone, is not a Hallmark & does NOT mean Sterling Silver.! THE USA USES 92.5% for its minimum Sterling Content.!

18th Century 'Fermiers Généreaux, 1789 French Halllmarks

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:

Item #250388792571 , Bill, ask Seller. I think this Wine Taster is missing its Thumb Rest. CAREFUL.

Item # 110355651015, Joyce, CAREFUL, the Cat has problem + not 12 different animals.

Item #320343000717 Mary, these are NOT by RABIER, slippery Heading & Description, Beware!

Item # 260327125684 Linda, Silver + Tiffany without Hallmarks is NOT STERLING, so BEWARE!

Item #290276130424 Anne, Silversmith is 20thC Faker. 1811 is a Fake Date to mislead, BEWARE!

Item #350147644568 Marilyn 'Slick Description' for $6000, Coin looks NEW, No Hallmarks, BEWARE!

Item # 130045713808 Steve, MADE after 1838 NOT 1810, Repaired & No Returns!! Careful

Item #120302545338 Mike, ask Seller lots of questions, Hallmarks? Replated? may not be a Bargain!.

Item #140262164634, Anne, these are NOT Christofle, nor Gallia Knife Rests.

Item #3775538213, Mary, this is NOT Sterling, NOT for Potpourri, it's a Christofle Butter Mold.

Item #320280635662, John, this is NOT Sterling, It is plated silver with Deceptive Description

Item #370070319830, this is NOT Sterling Silver, READ Description carefully, uses, 'Appears...'

BUYERS beware:

Sellers who say that the 'photos' show the Condition. ASK for Exact Condition. Don't buy Photos!

Sellers use adjectives like, 'MUSEUM' etc. What does that mean? Don't overlook Condition, ASK!

Item #120233348070, Mary, this Seller knows or should Know this is NOT Sterling Silver.

Item #140211041160, Joan, iSoldit knows or should Know these Goblets are NOT Sterling Silver.

Item #260210844740, Anne, Seller knows or should Know it is NOT Sterling Silver or equivalent!

Item #290203483000, Mary.description misleading; 3 pieces NOT all Christofle, rather, a Mixture!

Item #160204167913, Joan, this Wine Taster is NOT Sterling Silver, rather silver plate.

Item #360019438729, Incomplete, missing its Ladle, Joan, look for another Christofle Sauce Dish

Item #130194693025, Incomplete, missing its Handle, Mary, keep looking for a Complete Basket

Item #140203284295, Linda, sorry, this is NOT Sterling Silver

Item #140200249519. Anne, unless you are prepared to find a Crystal or glass Insert, which, if made, will cost you considerably more than the item, this item is USELESS. Look at the photos carefully. Both the photos and the description are deceiving because the Bottom is empty and the Description mentions nothing about this Problem! This is the reason there are NO photos of the Bottom. Sorry

Item #300191714050. Cathy, Sellers often refer Buyers to their photos as their Description. Nevertheless, its not your job to find the defects, its up to the Seller to describe any. ASK lots of questions, e.g. Exact condtion of each piece including the Handles, are the Handles tight, are all of the pins in place, do the covers fit tightly, open and close tightly etc. REMEMBER you are not buying Photos!

Anne, you must differentiate between 12 Gallia Knife Rests comprised of 6 different Animals x 2 AND, 12 different Animals which is the original makeup of a complete Set. See item #270198830187

Jeremy, would you buy an expensive painting without knowing who painted it? Apply the same critique with all Sterling Silver, Wine Tasters etc., no matter what the object is

Monica, in my opinion item #320198985253 is missing its Tray

Nancy, in my opinion item #290190974907 is extraordinarily expensive. Be patient

Wine Taster item #140193287398 (was #140191034439) My opinion Darlene, is that this is still Overpriced for this model. Keep looking

BEWARE of item #270196875246. Ask Seller for Guarantee and the Description of the Hallmarks. Just stating that there are Hallmarks is meaningless, unless you know what they are!

BEWARE of Overpriced Shipping charges so, Ask questions about the Price. Descriptions which include the word 'Hallmark' or 'Poinçon' and nothing else, are worthless as those words alone do NOT mean anything so ask - what Exactly are the Hallmarks. FALSE DESCRIPTION - Item #3775538213 is Not what it is described and it is NOT Sterling. An example of a Seller stretching the imaginagination is item# 220178408747. Seller has 3 similar items described as Wine Tasters. On ebay be careful with Photos from Sellers who disguise problems by showing ITEMS on Tablecloths on Dishes or the use of trick photo techniques - insist on CLEAR photos of the Item itself, after all, you are not buying the Tablecloth or the Dishes!

N

July 31st, 2009

Christofle Catalogs, Collector's Guides PDF Format

   I have recently begun digitizing my Collection of rare and out-of-print Christofle Catalogs as well as Hallmark guides. Each book is being professionally scanned and preserved utilizing the highest quality prepress settings in the Adobe PDF format. I would like to offset some of the costs for this process by offering these Volumes to Collectors for a nominal fee. PLEASE have a look at the compressed Sample below and if this is something that interests you. Click Here For More Info