Expert: Martin G Roberts - 11/22/2006

Question
Hi Martin,i read this in a pewter marks book from a local reference library.it stated that the french pewter makers around 1720 (paris i think) had to mark thier items with a hammer surmounted with a crown.Haveyou ever heard of a pewter maker ever making a silver and gold item? i would send you pictures but this site does not have the fasilities. regards david
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Hi Martin, i have a cowrie shell snuff box mounted in what seems to be silver and gold but the makers mark on it seems to be a pewter makers mark. It is a hammer with a crown above with the initials gm or gn either side of the hammer.this looks like pewter marks from 18th century france.The box is absolutely original and not a fake .can you offer some help with the mark. could it be american. many thanks david
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It's not an American pewterer's mark. Can you tell me where you found a reference to this type of mark being French and 18th century?  

Answer
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Crowned hammers have been used by pewterers from various countries at various times as maker's marks and, probably, as quality marks. The hammer is a symbol of their craft, but there are many other crafts that come under the generic label 'hammermen', and work in metal, so such marks may be used on other types of metals - I don't know.

It is possible there is some overlap between pewterers and silversmiths in some parts of the world, but never in England.

I suspect the mark on your piece is simply the marks of the maker in whatever metal it is, from a Continental European country.