2007-09-04 03:47:00 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Sculpture
Hi! The French have what is undoubtedly the most complex system of hallmarks in the world, and the most difficult to read. The difficulty lies in the fact that the French never use numbers. Symbols in the form of animals and heads of animals and people, insects, and birds have been used to indicate fineness, place of manufacture, imports and exports. The most easily recognized and commonly seen French mark is the eagle’s head, in use since 1838, indicating 18 karat gold. Assayed French gold is never lower than 18k. The mark can be found on jewelry in any number of places. Look for it on clasps, side edges, galleries, and pin stems as well as on the back surface of a piece. They can be very clever in hiding their marks. There are some French marks shown in the links below. I am getting the feeling that SGDG may be a foundry mark as I see it referred to in costume jewelry as well as metal scientific instruments, old decorative buttons and other metal pieces. Hope this helped.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Guide-to-Jewelry-Hallmarks-History-and-Meaning_W0QQugidZ10000000000978869
www.bhi.co.uk/hints/hmarks
http://www.modernsilver.com/basichallmarks.htm
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/bettysglitz/item/br-3938
2007-09-04 07:45:52 · answer #1 · answered by guess who at large 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Show, and others may tell here http://www.irecognisethat.com
2007-09-04 05:58:06 · answer #2 · answered by Pam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes welcome to the circle of values
2007-09-04 03:55:10 · answer #3 · answered by Ally S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋