Fabulous matched PAIR of antique to vintage French sterling silver 1 3/4" napkin rings, both with a seashell accented concave form and "Hermine" & "Bernard" inscriptions! We don't normally find this wonderful old French sterling silver napkin rings in pairs but here's one and how charming they are with what is surely husband & wife dedications. Both bear the French Minerve or Minerva hallmark, the tiny number "1" within those marks means they're in .950 silver (95% pure and higher than the .925 standard for "sterling" silver). The silversmith marks are there, appear to be "SM" under a crest or shield shape and are for Orfevrerie Saint-Medard, 5 rue Froissart, Paris circa early 1900s.
We've amassed well over 100 great old mostly French sterling napkin rings over the years and Iâm working on them now. They're great mixed & matched around your table, wonderful to find a set of twelve or more matching pieces but who could be so lucky. And, isn't it much neater if all are unique, each with a history...a story of its own! We have rococo style napkin rings, guilloche style machined or engraved napkin rings, French Empire style napkin rings, personalized napkin rings with the original owners' names on them. Just a massive array of styles and aesthetically unbeatable! Browse and enjoy, theyâre all so lovely and sure to add to your fine dining experience (and that of your guests, too)!
Very good condition. Each one weighs 32 grams, 65 grams or 2.1 troy ounces for the pair. Built to last, great condition as you can see from the images. A tiny scuff possible and some tarnish around the raised seashell accents but they've recently been polished to a high shine. The "Bernard" one has a small dent to the upper rim/edge on the left side. See pictures for measurements.
