010. Hallmark of Liberty’s head to the left in an oval frame.
illustration of the Hallmark of Liberty to the left in an oval frame
Hallmark of Liberty’s head to the left in an oval frame. 1797 recall hallmark for small items in gold and silver. Paris 1797.
The information on the Liberty head hallmark and the other illustrations of hallmarks on this website 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 bookshops. A complete list of assay office marks, 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 hallmark offices, are published in this book for the first time. You can thus locate the origin of the jewels and also date them with more precision.
Book available on this site or visit the site www.bijouxregionaux.fr
What is a hallmark?
During the introduction of new hallmarks, often following the theft of hallmarks or the discovery of false hallmarks, an inventory is decreed to check the hallmarks on existing jewellery among professionals. Here are the instructions given to the offices of guarantee in 1838:
The inventory hallmarkes will be applied free of charge and without title verification on works already legally marked with the inventory hallmark in 1819 or hallmarkes in use from August 1 , 1819 until May 9, 1838 inclusive.
As for gold and silver objects that bear marks other than those of these hallmarks, and works whose marks, altered by use or by the lack of care taken in polishing, could no longer be appreciated, they must not bear the mark of the census hallmarks; one applies to them that of the new hallmarkes of title; they will therefore be subject to trial and payment of the 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 must 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 simple individuals, who are more than those which will exist in deposit at the Mont-de-Piété.
