Incredible French Silver Knife - Hallmark ID?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Salvatorparadise, Jan 28, 2016.

  1. Salvatorparadise

    Salvatorparadise Active Member

    Hey guys, I received this knife some time back and put it aside, but took it out again recently and realized its importance. It is entirely hand chased and exceptionally fine!!! It bears a French boar's head guarantee mark, but I can not decipher the maker mark. It looks like possible a P over an FR above a star in a circle. Can anyone find this mark?
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Do these pieces go together? I'm confused. Also see differences stylistically.
     
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  3. Salvatorparadise

    Salvatorparadise Active Member

    yes, handle and scabbard, I have the blade, too
     

    Attached Files:

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  4. lauragarnet

    lauragarnet Well-Known Member

    Wow, that has a lot of symbolism and tells a story. Warfare through the ages. Knights in armor with swords all the way to rifles and cannons.
     
  5. afantiques

    afantiques Well-Known Member

    At the battle of Waterloo, for example, you would have both horsemen in armour, if not full plate armour, and cannons and muskets, and even a few rifles.
     
  6. afantiques

    afantiques Well-Known Member

    Just seen the other side which does appear to depict late 19th C warfare.
     
  7. Ladybranch

    Ladybranch Well-Known Member

    I've had a go at the mark's pic with not much luck other to say, I don't think that is the letter P over the "FR". I think it is a device/symbol like a bust/head, a phrygian (liberty cap), ... There might be a partial star or something in the very top peak of the lozenge. I've looked through the few French maker's mark sites online and at the moment can't spot a similar lozenge. I'll keep trying off and on today.

    No doubt you are very familiar with the following site, but if not, the site has 12 French "FR" and 1 "F&R" silver makers listed with description of their marks, but few pics of the actual marks.
    http://www.silvercollection.it/frenchsilversmithsF.html

    English translation of the page. For some reason all the "FR"s in the left column are showing as "EN"s. As you move done the left column it goes from the FPs to ENs and then to Fray, FS - strange......:
    http://translate.google.com/transla...&hl=en&langpair=auto|en&tbb=1&ie=windows-1252

    Another well known French maker's mark site:
    http://www.925-1000.com/Ffrench_makers_A.html

    --- Susan

    Here are a couple of my edited versions of the mark. They certainly are no better than your pic, but thought I'd throw them into the mix.

    knife5-comboX.jpg
     
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  8. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    knife1.jpg Wow. Very, very nice.
     
  9. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

  10. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

  11. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    Enlarged, the uniforms look to be at least WWI era. On side one, there are men to the right of the horse that have uniforms that look late 19th early 20th century. On side two, on the far right are men wearing what looks like British Army helmets.

    The woman with the sword and scales stepping on a snake is a mystery, but probably could be found. And that looks like the Green Man underneath her.
     
  12. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    Someone's rendition of Themis,Goddess of Justice.The scales of justice in her left hand.
     
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