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

For SILVER COLLECTORS, I have 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,
  eMail me to Purchase a Copy or, just for more Information. ** Only 1 Copy left.

History of SILVER - 1986 by 'Arnould de Charette'

If you Collect, or, are 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
 eMail me to Purchase a Copy or, just for more Information.

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

Nina's eBay Tips & Cautions of the Day:


** 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 wer lost, washed off, removed etc. and some unsrupulous people use them to deceive. SEE an example of the Hallmarks under Crystal & Glass. BEWARE!!!

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

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

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

Item #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...'

Item #280248171090, Joyce, it is Christofle but, NOT Sterling

Item #Item #200236189025, Marilyn, this is 'Silver Plated'. Seller has now changed his description!

Item #Item #360038499421, Joan, I told you, NOT ALL ORIGINAL. Poor Buyer pd $1000.

Item #Item #160154428147, Linda, In my opinion this Christofle piece is missing the Spoon! Forget it.

Item #Item #180235920111, Linda, In my opinion this is NOT a Wine Funnel!Too Small, no Filter.

BUYERS beware of S & H- e.g.' iSoldit' charges $15.50 for US postage! ASK Mailing Cost Questions.

Sellers, like 'UNOWHO' get angry when Questions were asked...BEWARE! Keep Asking, don't Buy.

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!

Item #200192462838. Sorry Mariane, but this Christofle Wine Bottle Caddy is NOT Christofle

Item #280193098793, 9 Christofle Napkin Rings are NOT Sterling Silver, Harvey

Item #160199047172 is NOT Sterling Silver as described, Margaret

Item #230213763604 is NOT Sterling Silver, Esther

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!

BEWARE More and more questions coming from Purchasers of Mexican Silver which is marked 925 indicating Silver Content & normally means Sterling BUT, many objects are turning out to be 'silver-plated brass' after the item was Tested. Forewarned is Forearmed!

REIGN Periods & French/English Styles

Le Moyen Age ( Epoque Romane ) Xe - XIe - XIIe Centuries
Le Moyen Age ( Epoque Gothique ) XIIIe - XIVe - XVe
Renaissance XVIe
Henri IV XVIIe (1589-1610)
Louis XIII XVIIe (1610-1643)
Louis XIV XVIIe (1643-1715)
Regence XVIIIe (1715-1723)
Louis XV XVIIIe (1723-1774)
Louis XVI XVIIIe (1774-1792)
Convention XVIIIe (1792-1795)
Directoire XVIIIe (1795-1799)
Consulat XVIIIe (1799-1804)
Empire XIXe (1804-1815)
Restauration XIXe (1815-1824)
Charles X XIXe (1824-1830)
Louis Philippe XIXe (1830-1848)
Napoléon III Bonaparte XIXe (1852-1870)
Art Nouveau XIXe (1885-1919)

REIGN Periods for France with Kings of France

Hugues Capet 987- 996 * Robert le Pieux 996 -1031 * Henri 1er 1031 -1060
Philippe 1er 1060 - 1108 * Louis VI Le Gros 1108 - 1137 * Louis VII 1137 - 1180
Philippe Auguste 1180 - 1223 * Louis VIII 1223 -1226 * Louis IX (St-Louis) 1226-1270
Philippe III Le Hardi 1270-1285 * Philippe IV Le Bel 1285-1314
Louis X Le Hutin 1314-1316 * Philippe V Le Long 1316-1322
Charles IV Le Bel 1322-1328 * Philippe VI 1328-1350 * Jean Le Bon 1350-1364
Charles V 1364-1380 * Charles VI 1380-1422 * Charles VII 1422-1461
Louis XI 1461-1483 * Charles VIII 1483-1498 * Louis XII 1498-1515
François I 1515-1547 * Henri 1547-1559 * François 1559-1560
Charles IX 1560-1574 * Henri III 1574-1589 * Henri IV 1589-1610
Louis XIII 1610-1643 * Louis XIV 1643-1715 * Louis XV 1715-1774
Louis XVI 1774-1792 * Convention 1792-1795 * Directoire 1795-1799
Consulat 1799-1804 1er Empire * Napoléon 1804-1815
Louis XVIII 1815-1824 * Charles X 1824-1830 * Louis-Philippe 1830-1848
Seconde République
L. Napoléon Bonaparte 1848-1852 * IIe Empire Napoléon III 1852-1870
IIIe République 1870-1940 * Régime de Vichy Pétain 1940-1944
Gouvernement provisoire 1944-1947
IVe République 1947-1953
Ve République 1958 - Today

READ Description carefully for Items #290186527584 and #290186531198 - NOT Sterling and don't get taken in by long Descriptions of the Coin, usually French, that has been inserted and not the Wine Taster itself. Ignore Adjectives like, 'Sublime' Sumptuous' 'Museum Quality' etc. Ask Seller for more information! With Euro 60% higher than our Dollar, why is a French Seller selling on the US Site to US buyers? GUESS!

BEWARE of Item# 110205219687 (relisted #110197666137) appears to be a classic 19th/20th Century design, however, the 'Thumb Rest' appears to be missing. As it is now, it is quite impractical to hold and use this Wine Taster with Wine in the Bowl. Item was already Sold once and possibly returned! SOLD for an incredible $160.

BEWARE of Item #130177231953 which is NOT Sterling!!   3 Wine Tasters Described as 'Argent' (the word in French means, Silver) are Not Sterling Silver nor the equivalent, but look at the Prices paid! #140179403045, #140179397531 and #140179400353. Regrettably, I was asked about them AFTER they were purchased, too late. In French, to describe something as Sterling Silver or 950/1000 quality Silver and made after 1838, the description should read: 'Argent Massif avec Poinçon Minerve', not Argent alone!

BEWARE of descriptions with just the word SILVER or ARGENT.   Item #230187775377 is a FAKE and is a perfect example of the addition of a Fake Date to deceive. Remember that Hallmarks must correspond to added Dates. Item #160171855850 is Silver Plate, NOT Sterling and item #230155240336 was Sold by Seller as STERLING without HALLMARKS. REMEMBER that STERLING Silver always has HALLMARKS! Don't be a 'Pigeon' ASK QUESTIONS and, don't accept 'Stupid' answers. If you can't understand the Answer, its not you that's stupid, its the SELLER unless you buy it, then you are stupid. Beware of 'Bargains'

CLICK here to ask me a question about anything, anywhere!

June 30th, 2008

FAKES & FALSE or MISLEADING DESCRIPTIONS on eBay

BEWARE Item #230187775377 = FAKE + e.g. of Fake Date, #160171855850=SilverPlate #230155240336 as STERLING without HALLMARKS?? SELLER of 3 WineTasters e.g.ASK QUESTIONS, don't accept 'Stupid' answers + if you can't understand the Answer, its not you, its the SELLER.

WOW, More Fakes, Rejects, False/Misleading Descriptions on eBay -Items with DATES engraved or COINS Often mean FAKES -SEE #330145521425 SOLD$260-FAKE, Fake ID is simple. Had 1st standard French Control Hallmark (started in 1838) + an inscription Dated 1760, LONG before the existence of the Hallmark + you have a notorious 20th C Silversmith 'KNOWN' for Fakes #330145521425 is 20C FAKE!! #320140626466 FAKE MARKS, See SOLD $250 with Missing Thumb Rest no mention. #220124850042, SEE #330112313713 was 330108249415 Not pre 1800, #7387583707 & #7380616994 are 20C by a notorious French 'Faker'. #'s 330150087751, 7416005660 are NOT 1800's, items #7409954872, 250135271422 and #6610244417 are NOT Sterling. UNBELIEVABLE? See item #7372787140 SOLD for $468. Incredible, it was made after 1838 & 2nd Standard is 800 silver less fine than Sterling. Also item #4435985060 $70 Souvenir & #6571169259.

Sometimes, the Seller might not Know BUT more often SELLER knew or should have known or, Seller is getting rid of his 'Mistakes' e.g. items 7395612152 an Ash Tray #7371089524 a shallow Dish Called a Wine Taster. Item# 7381286681 a Dish, called WineTaster made $173. With Item #7367920994 which SOLD for $342 Fake Identification was simple. Again, 1st standard French Control Hallmark (started in 1838) & an inscription Dated 1817, long before the existence of the Hallmark + you have a notorious 20th C Silversmith 'known' for Fakes as #330145521425. Everything today is called a Wine Taster even a 'Tea Caddy Spoon' see item #6570430708 or Item #7331215832 an 'Ash Tray'. Item#320105554959 is new + made in Thailand. Item #6559279001 another 'avoid' Example. If its Sterling, what are the Hallmarks? Simply READ Descriptions carefully + ASK QUESTIONS! Watch out for 'Genuine Antique Coin' set into Thailand copies #320078020650 + SEE this LINK:
ZDNet

May 30th, 2008

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