Exquisite & rare antique French Belle Epoque era hallmarked silver-plate 6pc coffee & tea service including 23" tray, ornate guilloche style machined decoration including large interlaced "A de S" monogram medallions and all pieces in fabulous condition! Yes, silver plate as opposed to sterling silver as we are most known for but this is a set I simply had to have and, therefore, offer to our clientele. French in origins and by a highly reputable silversmith, the set bears the marks for Adolphe Boulenger of Paris. The silversmith house began in 1810 under the name Hautin, later to become Boulenger-Hautin in 1864. The specific marks on the pieces are for silver-plate and date between 1876-1899. Thick & heavy, the French even did silver plating right with a thicker layer of silver giving them added durability to last through the years with as few signs of age as possible, just as you see here. Often, you see loss, wear or even bubbling in the silver but not here. The weight gives them away as not being sterling silver but, other than that and by looking at the marks, you would swear that they were sterling silver. An exceptional set, gorgeous old French silver but at a fraction of the price of sterling. If sterling, the tray alone would likely be around $3k.
Teapots and their shapes and styles have evolved over time, just as al other items of antique silverware. Often, the form of these teapots, as with other silver wares, reflected the preferred tastes of the time. Being a staple of most upper class and middle class homes from the eighteenth century onwards, they are a wonderful indicator of the shifting of fashion. A quite unique set here, nearly pear shaped bodies though unlike any we've seen or offered to date and rare in that the set is both complete and in such a beautifully preserved condition!
Very good to excellent condition. I see no loss or damage to the silver plate to any of the pieces. A small scratch on the top of the larger coffee pot, just under the finial area. There is a faint dimple or two and there is a glued repair to the floral finial on the sugar pot but no other damage to note. See pictures for all individual weights and measurements.
