Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.
Key points
- Decorative arts are recognised by their marks: the signature of a maker, silversmith’s hallmark, original label.
- A silverware inventory is made by set: number of pieces, hallmarks, weight, condition.
- These objects live in the home: without an inventory, they blend in with ordinary furnishings.
Decorative arts: what to keep track of
Glassware, silverware, silver plate, ornamental bronzes, enamels, lacquers, Art Nouveau and Art Deco objects: decorative arts are everywhere in a home, on a mantelpiece, in a sideboard, on a table. That is what makes them hard to keep track of. For each object or each set, record the same information.
- The maker or house: glassmaker, silversmith, cabinetmaker, workshop.
- The period: Art Nouveau, Art Deco, another period, date if known.
- The marks: engraved or cameo signature, hallmarks, stamp, label.
- The material and technique: glass, crystal, silver, silver plate, bronze, enamel.
- The composition: number of pieces in a service or a garniture.
Art Nouveau glassware and Art Deco objects
Art Nouveau glassware has been widely copied, often with an imitated signature. Attribution to a house rests on the whole: technique, quality, signature, provenance. Art Deco objects raise the same question. Note on the record who attributed the piece and on what basis (invoice, expert report, sale catalogue): a sourced attribution carries more weight.
Silverware: hallmarks and silverware inventory
Pieces of silverware generally bear several hallmarks: one tells you about the metal, another designates the silversmith. Record them all, photograph them in close-up and have a specialist read them if necessary: an object in solid silver and an object in silver plate look alike, but they are not worth the same. For the silverware inventory, work by set: a cutlery service is described by the number of pieces of each type, the pattern, the hallmarks, the engraved monogram and the total weight.
What a decorative arts record contains
| Field | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Maker or house, designation, period, date | Identify the object. |
| Material and technique | Tell solid silver from silver plate, glass from crystal. |
| Signature, hallmarks, inscriptions | The markers of attribution. |
| Dimensions, weight, number of elements | Check that a service or a garniture is complete. |
| Condition, restorations, maintenance costs | Track chips, dents, regilding. |
| Provenance, invoices, certificate | Prove origin and support the attribution. |
| Location | Know in which piece of furniture, which room, which house. |
Missing a piece of information specific to your objects? Custom fields let you add it.
Value and insurance
Silverware and small objects are among the first things taken in a burglary. An inventory with photos of the sets and the hallmarks, invoices and valuations is the best evidence. Also check that your policy names them specifically: our guide home inventory for insurance explains how to go about it. Adjust the insured value at each renewal.
Succession
In an estate, ordinary household furnishings (meubles meublants) fall within the 5% flat-rate allowance for furnishings, whereas works of art and collectors’ items are excluded from it: their value cannot be lower than the estimate in a theft or fire insurance policy in force at the time of death, unless proven otherwise. Between a decorative vase and a vase signed by a great house, the boundary is discussed with the notary (notaire). A documented inventory helps them decide and prevents an important object from going with the rest of the furniture.
Photos from your phone and sharing
Photograph each object on a neutral background, without glare, from several angles, then the signature and the hallmarks in close-up. For silverware, a photo of each service laid out helps to check that it is complete. To submit a piece to an expert, share a selection through a password-protected link. Earthenware and porcelain are covered on the ceramics page.
With Collectalia
Collectalia inventories your decorative arts: one record per object or set with maker or house, period, material, signature and hallmarks, dimensions, weight and number of elements, condition, provenance, photos taken from your phone by scanning a QR code, invoices, restoration costs and successive valuations. Location by house and by room, custom fields, insurance policies with a reminder before renewal, a Succession module and free read-only access. Free trial.
Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.