011. Liberty head hallmark to the left in a shaped border

Illustration of the Liberty head hallmark to the left surrounded by a border

Liberty head hallmark to the left surrounded by a shaped border. 1797 recall mark of large objects in gold and silver. Departments of France 1797.

The information and illustrations of Liberty head hallmark and ther other hallmarks on this site come from the book Traditional French Jewellery, written by Mike Fieggen, expert in antique jewellery and hallmarks from Osprey Paris. This 300-page book, the definitive reference on French regional jewels and their hallmarks, is available in French and English in our store, on Amazon and at certain bookstores. A complete list of different, small secret marks in the hallmarks that allow you to identify in which city an object was hallmarked, as well as a list of the closing dates of the assay offices, are included in this book. You can thus, for the first time, locate the origin of the jewels and also date them with more precision.

Book available on this website or visit the website www.bijouxregionaux.fr

What is an inventory hallmark?

When new hallmarks are introduced, often following the theft of hallmarks or the discovery of false hallmarks, an inventory is decreed to check the hallmarks on existing jewellery held by professionals. Here are the instructions given to the hallmark offices in 1838:

The inventory hallmarks will be applied free of charge and without title verification on works already legally marked with the inventory hallmark in 1819 or hallmarks in use from August 1, 1819 until May 9, 1838 inclusive.

As for gold and silver objects that bear marks other than these hallmarks, and works whose marks, altered by use or by the lack of care taken in polishing, can no longer be appreciated, they must not bear the mark of the inventory hallmark; one applies to them that of the new hallmarks of title; they will therefore be subject to assaying and payment of duty, unless the possessor prefers to break them.

The same will be done, and without prejudice to the proceedings that must be taken in such cases, with regard to objects which are imprinted with false marks.

As far as possible, and to facilitate subsequent verifications, the inventory mark should be applied alongside the old marks and be accompanied by the counter-mark.

Silverware and jewellery for the personal use of manufacturers and merchants should be counted as the works of their trade.

There is no need to extend the inventory to works owned by private individuals, any more than those which will exist in deposit at Mont-de-Piété (government pawnbroker).