Hallmark?

A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

Hallmark?

Posted by Edith D on June 16, 2012 at 2:40am

The "tete de negre" was supposedly used in Tunisia before 1942. All of the silver dealers and jewelers in the souk display the poster from the Ministry of Finance showing pictures of stamps for silver guarentees. I would, however, challenge anyone to be able to distinguish between these marks since they are so tiny. I would propose that they are usually nothing more than a simple punch mark, quite indistinguishable from any other mark. The "tete de negre" is, in my opinion, more myth than reality.

Comments

Edith D June 16, 2012 at 2:51am

Can anyone really tell the difference between the picture above and some other random mark?
Edith D June 16, 2012 at 2:55am

Is it this one or another?
Harald June 16, 2012 at 1:48pm

No myth it does exist.

It is not correct what the picture of the ministry of finance says. The mark "tete de negre" was introduced on the 25th of june, 1942 for silver .800 and above. So the mark is used for after and not BEFORE 1942! And it is for small articles.

The one with the grapes introduced 18th of July 1905 and again introduced in 1942 for .900 silver . But for large articles.

Those marks can be seen clearly although they are very small. Use a magnifying glass and you will see it well.
Edith D June 16, 2012 at 10:02pm

Thanks Harald for the clarification! But I still cannot see that these marks resemble the drawings on the Tunisian silver chart, even with my magnifying lens. How about this mark?

Have you seen this used, and can you actually distinguish it? By the way, here is what the new mark looks like for both 800 and 900. I have a piece with this mark and it is very clear....

Ironically the same piece of jewelry I own with this mark also has small punch marks, but my impression is that they were no longer using the "tete de negre." Is this true???
Harald June 16, 2012 at 10:24pm

In fact there are 2 "tete de Negre" stamps: the one you show and an older type, a bit different from 1905 onwards till the new one of 1942.

I do not know if it still is in use.

The picture Petite Garantie Argent is a mark that is struck on gold, silver and platinum as a census mark when the decree of december the 11th 1940 was issued.

I have no information on the fatima hand mark, never seen it.
Harald June 16, 2012 at 10:26pm

Edith, is it not a good idea to go to your Assay office and ask about the hallmarks?
Edith D June 16, 2012 at 10:35pm

Possibly, but the government is still in chaos as it is without a constitution. I have had multiple conversations with people at the silver shops who seem more confused than me. After speaking with lots of silver sellers, I think I also have an idea about the old number stamps. Everyone agrees that they only appear on good silver, have no relationship to weight, and somehow are related to a sizing system. I cannot get good info on when they stopped using numerical stamps...one jeweler told me they used them up until the 1990s, but my sense is that they stopped using them earlier than this. I also cannot find agreement on if the sizing system was applied universally throughout the country by all shops. None of it makes any sense to me.

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Hallmark?

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