Fabulous antique French 1798-1809 Napoleon I era sterling silver 35pc dinner sized flatware set, a 6pc table setting for SIX in the classic “Fiddle” or “Filet” pattern with silver & ebonized wood handled knives and all in wonderful condition! Gorgeous and over 200 years old, dating to the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte! All but the knives and smallest spoons with large interlaced monograms that appear to be “MP” or “MF”(?). The forks & spoons all bear the French Michelange or Michelangelo & Ceres hallmarks, the tiny number "1" within those marks means they're in .950 silver (95% pure and higher than the .925 standard for "sterling" silver). Although they all match, monograms, etc, there are several silversmith marks Eugene Queille (Paris c. 1847-1895), Edmond Jamet (1831-1847) & Nicolas Pierre Beguin, (1840-1847) so, from the dates, I’d narrow the set down to 1847. The knives are not original to the set but compliment them beautifully and would be of a similar style to those used. The blades are all marked “Licot Namur", surely for François Licot, Namur (southern Belgium). A beautiful table setting for six, don't miss them!
Very good condition. As noted, the knives are not original to the forks & spoons and are a bit later additions to the sterling pieces (giving knives as a gift was something just not done, the meaning behind that being that the giving of knives denote the “cutting of ties or friendships, etc.). The solid sterling silver pieces alone (not counting knives or smallest silver plate spoons) have a total weight of 38.5 troy ounces or 1195 grams. See images for individual weights and measurements.
