posted 07-12-2003 02:11 PM              

I am trying to identify the silver or silverplate I just received from a relative.

The marks on opposite sides of the bowls of the spoons are:

1. alfe nide in a rectangle and
   
2. a bearded goat(?) with the number 8 on the left and the number 4 on the right all inside a rectangle.

posted 07-12-2003 08:47 PM            

You might like to run searches on Christofle and goat etc. to see what has already been posted.

However, the "simple" answers to your question are:

1. Alfenide is generally used to refer to a white coloured alloy that was invented by Charles Halphen.
   
2. Halphen worked closely with Christofle, supplying the latter with the metal, until, it seems, Halphen died and his widdow fell out with Christofle
   
3. According to some knowledgeable sources, the goat's head is a Christofle mark, although no one to date has apparently seen it in conjunction with the "CHRISTOFLE" name mark.
   
4. It was also used by Charles Halphen, so its NOT exclusively Christofle
   
5. The 84 probably refers to the number of grams of silver required to plate 12 covers. Other variations include 60 and 18.
   
6. A French company called ALFENIDE may have existed, possibly formed by Halphen's widow.

posted 07-17-2003 03:41 AM            

Merci

posted 07-17-2003 10:01 AM            

Anyway she has photos which I will post in the Silverplate section later today.

posted 07-17-2003 11:59 AM            

(Patrick, could you go to the What I did on summer vacation... post and look over my Christofle question list - which includes your conclusions. Merci!)

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Suzanne D

posted 07-18-2003 02:44 AM            

Could you post the photos? I have the dates of many of Christofle's patterns and may be able to match yours with one.