French Silver Hallmarks: Ancien Regime (18th century)

It was applied after the maker's mark on the object under construction and before the stamping of the mark of "maison commune". In Paris the mark of charge had the form of an "A" crowned until 1789. Later the "A" was inscribed inside a circle with a pair of small numbers. The marks of charge were destinguished by the ornamental style of the letter and of the accompanying elements (florets, flippers...).
PARIS


1698-1703	1703-1708	1708-1715	1715-1717	1717-1722	1722-1726	1726-1732	1732-1738	1738-1744


1744-1750	1750-1756	1756-1762	1762-1768	1768-1775	1775-1781	1781-1783	1783-1789	1789

Also provincial marks used a letter to identify the town (in few cases were used two lettes or a number)
B: Rouen - C: Caen - D: Lyon - E: Tours - F: Angers - G: Poitiers -
H: La Rochelle - I: Limoges - K: Bordeaux - L: Bayonne - M: Toulouse -
N: Montpellier - O: Riom - P: Dijon - Q: Perpignam - R; Orléans - S: Reims -
T: Nantes - V: Troyes - X: Amiens - Y: Bourges - Z: Grenoble - &: Aix -
AA: Metz - CC: Besancon - W: Lille - 9: Rennes

THE MARK OF DISCHARGE ( POINCON DE DECHARGE)

The mark of discharge was the only mark stamped to the finished object. It is the most difficult to identify owing to its small size and the variety of symbols used (crown, head of animal, shell...).
PARIS

1698-1703 1703-17108 1708-1715 1715-1717 1717-1722 1722-1726 1726-1732 1732-1738 1738-1744

1744-1750 1750-1756 1756-1762 1762-1768 1768-1775 1775-1781 1781-1789 1783-1789 1789

THE MARKS OF CHARGE AND DISCHARGE
(POINCON DE CHARGE ET DE DECHARGE /POINCON DE LA MARQUE)

This mark was renewed at every change of the tax-farmer (fermier général). Different marks were used according to the size (large, medium, or small work) and type of the objects (flatware of holloware) on which they were applied.

THE MARK OF "MAISON COMMUNE" (POINCON DE COMMOUNAUTE or JURANDE)

This mark had the form of a letter topped by a crown. Used since the late 15th century to warrant silver fineness these marks were changed every year following the alphabetical order. From 1784 was used the letter "P" with the last two figures of the year. Others marks were added to the main mark to distinguish ancient objects reissued for sale, pieces restored or exempt from tax.
PARIS

1723-1724 1724-1725 1740-1742 1760-1761 1763-1764 1772-1773 1774-1775 1776-1777 1788-1789

THE MARK OF DISCHARGE OF OLD OBJECTS (POINCON DE DECHARGE DES OUVRAGES VIEX)

This mark was stamped by silversmiths on the pieces they hold only for retail to distinguish from the pieces they had manufactured. It had the shape of a lyre and was used under the direction of Enry Clavel from 1780 to 1782 and of Jean-Francois Kalendrin from 1782 to 1789. From 1789 to 1792 the lyre was replaced by a head of Momus.

THE MARK OF "CONTREMARQUE" (POINCON DE RECENSE)

This mark was freely stamped at any change of the tax-farmer (fermier général) to identify silver pieces marked by the former tax-farmer.

THE MARK OF DISCHARGE GRATIS (POINCON DE DECHARGE GRATIS)

This mark, used from 1768 to 1789, It was stamped on exempt from payment of duty by royal privilege. Only the silverware manufactured in Paris could benefit of this special right.

THE MARK OF "RECONNAISSANCE"

This mark was used to distinguish old works repaired or restored with the addition of new parts. In Paris it was used from 1750 to 1774 and had the shape of an urn or of a reversed artichoke.

version francaise