MARKS OF FRENCH SILVER-PLATED CUTLERY IN THE XIXth CENTURY.
CHRISTOFLE , VEUVE CHARLES HALPHEN, GOMBAULT-DESCLERCS
& MANUFACTURE DE L'ALFÉNIDE

In 1878, Christofle opened a new giant factory in Saint-Denis near Paris (Usine de Saint-Denis) [1], which extracted nickel metal from the nickel ore brought from New Caledonia (Nouvelle Calédonie). This allowed Christofle to produce its own base metal for silver plating, called "Metal Blanc" (White Metal). The latter circumstance explains why, in the same year, Christofle broke its relations with Veuve Charles Halphen: there was no need for Alfénide after the development of its own silver-like metal. Meanwhile, the firm of Veuve Charles Halphen was transformed to "Société Anonyme des Couverts Alfénide" (sometimes before 1886) and corresponding shares were issued (Fig.4). However, such transformation did not save the company from bankruptcy.

Fig.4. Share No.2203 issued by the Société Anonyme des Couverts Alfénide on 6th February 1886 (above) and corresponding coupons for the year 1908 (below).

In 1888 Christofle bought the Halphen and Gombault-Desclercs companies. However, rather than integrating this acquisition, Christofle allowed it to continue as a separate entity. They were joined with the remains of "Couverts de Méry" firm under the new name "Manufacture de l'Alfénide" and with the new boss, the afore-mentioned Félix Chéron. This information is taken from the catalogue of Manufacture de L'Alfénide, issued in 1891 [7]. Though the name of Desclercs company is mentioned on the title list, no products of this firm are described in this catalogue. It follows that to that time the Desclercs company terminated fully its production.

Being inside the new firm, both Halphen and Gombault companies kept their own marks. However, under the patronage of Félix Chéron the Halphen's goat mark was slightly modified (the initials "C" and "H" for Charles Halphen were removed, and a part of the mark have been lined, see below) and used both for hollow ware and cutlery. What was even more unexpected was that the silver-plated hollow ware products made by "Manufacture de l'Alfénide" continued the original numbering introduced by Veuve Charles Halphen in 1877. Such ordinal numeration was kept going until 1931, the year of major restructuring inside the Christofle firm [2]. This finding allows the dating of each numerated silver-plated hollow ware item made by Veuve Charles Halphen, Gombault or Manufacture de l'Alfénide [8].

At the beginning of the XXth century Manufacture de L'Alfenide became extremely fashionable due to the appearance of new Art Nouveau products under the brand GALLIA. This brand inherited the above-mentioned Halphen's goat mark and used it until 1931 [8, 9].

Fig.5. Disposition of marks on silver-plated brass base Christofle cutlery pieces, issued in 1851 (above) and in 1864 (below). The handle is from the right side.

We will describe these marks, starting from the one most distant from the handle:

1) The "CC" oval mark (Fig.6, above) contains four stars, two capital "C" letters (initials for "Charles Christofle"), between them a balance and a bee in the center above two palm-like branches. All mentioned elements are also characteristic for Christofle hollow ware products [2]. In the case of cutlery, the oval mark contains additionally a two-digit number (between the two plates of the balance), referring to the amount of silver (in grams), used for the production of two dozen pieces of cutlery. For the period 1845-1862, Christofle used 72 grams of silver for the silvering of 24 spoons (or 24 forks). It should be emphasized, that the mentioned amount refers only to standard serving forks and spoons, having around 21-22 cm in length. The silvering of smaller cutlery pieces (e.g., dessert forks and spoons and coffee/tea spoons) requests less silver. The mean size of the oval is 2.1 mm x 3.5 mm (for 20 different pieces of cutlery at my disposal, between 20.7 cm and 22.1 cm long).

Fig.6. The oval "CC" mark used on silver-plated Christofle cutlery between 1845 and 1862. The two-digit number (72) corresponds to the amount of silver, used for the production of two dozen cutlery pieces.

According to new laws imposed by the French government, starting from 1862 the "CC" oval mark without the bee image (instead, a kind of rosette is used) is set inside a square box (Fig.7). The mean size of the rectangular box with the "CC" oval inside is 2.2 mm X 2.5 mm (for 3 different pieces of cutlery at my disposal, between 21.1 cm and 21.6 cm long). Simultaneously, the amount of silver, used for silvering of 24 spoons (or 24 forks), was increased up to 80 grams. Such an amount of silver was kept until 1868, when it was again increased to 84 g.

Fig.7. The "CC" oval mark set in a square box which was applied on silver-plated Christofle cutlery between 1862 and 1867. The two-digit number (80) corresponds to the amount of silver, used for the production of two dozen cutlery pieces.

2) The year of production (two last digits) in the period 1845-1860 was set in a lozenge-shaped box (Fig.8). The mean size of the box (two diagonals), used between 1847 and 1859, is 2.2 mm x 3.4 mm (for 21 pieces of cutlery at my disposal). In 1860, a slightly different lozenge was used, its size is 1.6 mm x 3.1 mm.

Fig.8. The production year marking on silver-plated Christofle cutlery between 1845 and 1860.

In the same year (1860) another more serious change in marking the production year took place. Now instead of a lozenge-shaped box, a rectangular box was used (Fig.9). The mean size of this rectangular box is 1.6 mm x 1.9 mm (for four different pieces of cutlery at my disposal).

Fig.9. The production year marking on silver-plated Christofle cutlery since 1860.

3) The mark of the firm, used in the period 1849-1862, is the inscription CHRISTOFLE set in a rectangular cartouche with rounded corners (Fig.10). The mean length of the inscription is 3.3 mm (for 17 different pieces of cutlery at my disposal). Attention! Sometimes on the early pieces the third mark is absent (e.g., on pieces issued in 1847 or 1850). Regarding four pieces of cutlery issued between 1860 and 1867 (at my disposal), it should be noted that the length of the CHRISTOFLE inscription varies between 3.2 and 3.5 mm and jumps to 4.5 mm in 1864.

Fig.10. The inscription CHRISTOFLE in a rectangular cartouche with rounded corners

Finishing this part of my investigation, it should be reminded that before 1855 all silver-plated cutlery pieces, produced by Christofle, used brass as base metal for silvering. In 1855 Christofle signed an agreement with Halphen and started to produce cutlery made from the silver-plated Alfénide metal. As a result the number of silverplated cutlery made from brass decreased drastically. Though 1862 Christofle catalogue still mentions the mark for silver-plated brass [6], it took me about a decade to find a fork, made from silver-plated brass and marked by 1867. How long Christofle company continued to use a brass base for silvering, I don't know, it is still an open question.

Fig.11. Disposition of marks on silver-plated Alfénide base Christofle cutlery, issued in 1860. The handle is from the right side.

We will describe these marks, starting from the one most distant from the handle:

1) The lozenge-shaped box with the inscription ALFÉNIDE, on two lines (Fig.12), was used for the designation of the silver-like base metal. The mean size of the box (two diagonals) is 1.7 mm x 4.3 mm (for six different pieces of cutlery at my disposal);

Fig.12. The lozenge-shaped box with the inscription ALFÉNIDE.

2) The "CC" oval mark (Fig.13) corresponds to the one, used before c.1855 on Christofle silver-plated brass base pieces (see Fig.6). For the period between c.1855 and 1862, Christofle used again 72 grams of silver for the silvering of 24 standard spoons (or forks). The length of six spoons/forks at my disposal varies between 20.7 cm and 21.7 cm. The mean size of the oval is 2.0 mm x 3.6 mm (for four different pieces of cutlery);

Fig.13. The oval "CC" mark used on silver-plated alfenide-based Christofle cutlery between c.1855 and c.1862. The two-digit number (72) corresponds to the amount of silver used for the production of two dozen of cutlery pieces. Note: on the original item the number was faded and I made itmore visible for clarity.

3) For the time period c.1855-1859, the information about the production year (two last digits) was set in a lozenge-shaped box as above (Fig.14, above). The size of the box (two diagonals) is 2.1 mm x 3.5 mm (for two pieces of cutlery in my possession). Starting from 1860, Christofle used the rectangular box for this purpose (Fig.13, below) with size of 1.7 mm x 2.1 mm (for two pieces of cutlery at my disposal).

Fig.14. The production year marking on silver-plated Christofle cutlery between c.1855 and c.1862.

From 1862, according to the new French government laws, some changes in cutlery marks were incorporated. Now the silver-plated spoons and forks, issued by Christofle, possess four obligatory marks (Fig.15).

Fig.15. Disposition of marks on silver-plated Alfénide base Christofle cutlery, issued in 1875. The handle is from the right side.

We will describe these marks, starting from the one most distant from the handle:
1) The rectangular box with the inscription ALFÉNIDE, on two lines, was used for the designation of the silver-like base metal (Fig.16). The mean size of the box with the inscription ALFÉNIDE is 1.7 mm x 2.4 mm (for 18 different pieces of cutlery at my disposal);

Fig.16. The box with the inscription ALFÉNIDE, used between 1862 and 1877. Note two versions of writing the fourth letter in the inscription, the second one is used rarely.

2) According to new laws imposed by the French government, the "CC" oval mark is now set in a square box, similar to the mark for silver-plated brass-based cutlery (see Fig.7). The bee image disappears, instead a rosette image is used (cf. Figs.11,15). This correlates with my earlier findings on marks of Christofle hollow ware [2]. In the case of ALFENIDE base, for the period between 1862 and 1868, Christofle used 80 grams of silver for the silvering of 24 spoons (or 24 forks). In 1868, the amount of silver used for the silvering of two dozen of pieces was raised to 84 grams (Fig.17). Again we mean the silvering of standard serving spoons or forks. In my collection there are 8 forks and spoons which were issued between 1862 and 1868 with the length of 20.6-21.7 cm. The mean size of the rectangular box (with the "CC" oval mark inside) in the above-mentioned period was 2.3 mm x 2.6 mm. I possess also 15 pieces of cutlery issued between 1868 and 1877 with the length of 20.5-21.5 cm. The mean size of the rectangular box (with the "CC" oval mark inside) for this time period is again 2.3 mm x 2.6 mm;

Fig.17. Two "CC" oval marks set in a rectangular box together with box with last two digits of the production year ("68" refers to "1868"). In 1868 two different amounts of silver (80 g and 84 g) were used for the production of silver-plated cutlery.

3) The information about the production year (two last digits) is placed in a rectangular box (Fig.18). The mean size of the rectangular box with two last digits of the production year is 1.6 mm x 1.8 mm (for 25 different pieces of cutlery at my disposal);

Fig.18. The production year marking on silver-plated Christofle cutlery between 1862 and 1877.

4) Finally, starting from 1865, Christofle adds to the cutlery marks of the products, made in a collaboration with Halphen, the inscription CHRISTOFLE in a cartouche (Fig.19). There were two types of the cartouche: rectangular with rounded corners (before 1874) or rectangular without rounded corners (in the period 1874-1877). It should be emphasized that a similar inscription was used previously (until at least 1867) while marking the Christofle cutlery, made from silver-plated brass (see above). The length of the inscription CHRISTOFLE is somewhat irregular: 3.3-3.4 mm in 1865 and 1868, 4.5-4.6 mm in 1865 and 1867, 4.9 mm in 1871, 5.2-5.3 mm in 1868 and 1873 and finally 7.1-7.5 mm in 1874, 1875, 1876 and 1877.

Fig.19. The inscription CHRISTOFLE in rectangular cartouche with rounded corners, used in the period 1862-1873 (above), and in rectangular cartouche without rounded corners, used in the period 1874-1877 (below).

Since 1878, after breaking the relations with Veuve Charles Halphen company, Christofle produces the silver-plated cutlery using its own silver-like metal, called "Métal Blanc" (white metal). The designation for a base metal is absent. The other marks are similar to those used between 1874 and 1877 (Fig.20).

Fig.20. Disposition of marks on silver-plated Metal Blanc base cutlery pieces, issued by Christofle in 1877 (above) and in 1886 (below). The handle is from the right side.

We will describe these marks, starting from the one most distant from the handle:

1) The "CC" oval mark in the square box (Fig.21) is similar to the one used between 1868 and 1877. The amount of silver used for the silvering of two dozen pieces is 84 grams. The length of 13 forks and spoons (at my disposal) issued in the period 1877-1899 varies between 20.7 cm and 21.4 cm. The mean size of the rectangular box (with the "CC" oval mark inside) is 2.3 mm x 2.5 mm (for ten different pieces of cutlery);

Fig.21. The "CC" oval mark in a square box, used between 1877 and 1899.

2) The information about the production year (two last digits) is placed in a rectangular box (Fig.22). The mean size of this box is 1.5 mm x 1.9 mm (for 13 different pieces of cutlery);

Fig.22. The production year marking on silver-plated Christofle cutlery between 1877 and 1899.

3) Finally, the inscription CHRISTOFLE in rectangular cartouche (Fig.23). The length of this inscription is quite irregular. In some years (1877, 1879, 1882, 1884, 1896, 1898 and 1899) it is about 6.0-6.1 mm. In other years (1883, 1885, 1886, 1895 and 1897) it fills the range of 7.3-7.5 mm.

Fig.23. The inscription CHRISTOFLE in rectangular cartouche, used on silver-plated Metal Blanc cutlery pieces, issued between 1877 and 1899.

After Christofle had broken its relations with Halphen company (in 1867), which was guided by Charles Halphen's widow, the latter started to produce high-quality silver-plated cutlery under their own marks. The structure and disposition of these marks follow the structure and disposition of the ones used during the Christofle/Halphen cooperation in 1855-1877 (Fig.24, cf. Fig.15).

Fig.24. Disposition of marks on silver-plated Alfenide base cutlery pieces, issued by Veuve Charles Halphen company: in 1878 (above), in 1881 (middle photo) and in 1885 (below). The handle is from the right side.

We will describe these marks, starting from the one most distant from the handle:

1) The rectangular box with the inscription ALFÉNIDE in two lines (Fig.25) was used for the designation of the base metal. The mean size of the box is 1.7 mm x 2.2 mm (for seven different pieces of cutlery);

Fig.25. The rectangular box with the inscription ALFÉNIDE, used by Halphen company between 1877 and 1885. Note two versions of writing the fourth letter in the inscription, the second one is used rarely.

2) The famous goat's mark of Halphen (Fig.26) represents a goat's head in the rhombus with the initials "C" and "H" (Charles Halphen) from the left and right sides and number 84 under the head. The number 84 means that the amount of silver used for the silvering of two dozen pieces is 84 grams. The length of 7 forks and spoons (at my disposal) varies between 20.8 cm and 21.5 cm. The rhombus is placed inside the rectangular box. The mean size of the rectangular box is 2.1 mm x 2.5 mm (for six different pieces of cutlery);

Fig.26. The famous Halphen goat's mark used between 1877 and 1885.

3) The information about the production year (two last digits) is placed in a rectangular box (Fig.27). The mean size of the rectangular box with two last digits of the production year is 1.5 mm x 2.0 mm (for seven different pieces of cutlery);

Fig.27. The production year marking on silver-plated Halphen cutlery.

4) Finally, the inscription HALPHEN in rectangular cartouche (Fig.28). The length of this inscription is 6.4-7.0 mm.

Fig.28. The inscription HALPHEN in rectangular cartouche used on silver-plated HALPHEN cutlery between 1877 and 1885.

After 1890, Manufacture de L'Alfenide became a branch of the Christofle firm. However, for different reasons Christofle tried to hide this fact, and hence there was no mentioning of Christofle on the marks of cutlery used by the Manufacture de L'Alfénide. On the contrary, these marks are very similar to those used by Veuve Charles Halphen with some insignificant changes (Fig.29, cf.Fig.24).

Fig.29. Disposition of marks on silver-plated Alfénide base cutlery pieces, issued by Manufacture de L'Alfenide. The handle is from the right side.

We will describe these marks, starting from the one most distant from the handle:

1) The rectangular box with the designation of the base metal ALFÉNIDE in two lines (Fig.30), is identical to that used by Christofle/Charles Halphen in 1862-1877 and Veuve Charles Halphen in 1878-1885 periods (Figs.16, 25). The mean size of the box is 1.8 mm x 2.1 mm (for five different pieces of cutlery);

Fig.30. The rectangular box with the inscription ALFÉNIDE, used by Manufacture de L'Alfénide between 1890 and 1920.

2) The Halphen goat's mark was slightly transformed (Fig.31). The initials "C" and "H" have been eliminated, instead of them from the left and right sides the digits "8" and "4" were set. The resulting number 84 meant that for the silvering of two dozen spoons (or forks) 84 grams of silver was needed. The length of 5 forks and spoons (at my disposal) varies between 21.1 cm and 21.8 cm. The rhombus with goat's head is placed inside the rectangular box, which is lined unlike the Halphen's goat mark (cf. Fig.26). The mean size of the rectangular box is 2.1 mm x 2.3 mm (for five different pieces of cutlery);

Fig.31. The goat's mark used by Manufacture de L'Alfénide between 1888 and 1920.

3) The information about the production year is absent. The inscription HALPHEN is given as before in a rectangular cartouche (Fig.32). The length of this inscription is 5.8-5.9 mm.

Fig.32. The inscription HALPHEN used by Manufacture de L'Alfénide after 1890.