Absolutely gorgeous & RARE antique French sterling silver 83pc flatware set, a 5pc place setting for TWELVE with matching serving pieces, ornate Louis XVI style floral pattern, lovely interlaced "CD" or "DC" monograms and kept in the original 3-layer oak storage and/or presentation chest! Wow, just in from France and as scrumptious as can be! Complete and original save for one tiny salt spoon missing and the asparagus cuff appears to be a replacement but it's even as glorious as the other pieces in pierced or reticulated sterling silver leaves & vines. All pieces bear the French Minerve or Minerva hallmark, the tiny number "1" within those marks means all are in .950 silver (95% pure and higher than the .925 standard for "sterling" silver). The silversmith marks are for Henri Soufflot, Paris circa 1884-1910 and the mark on the asparagus cuff or tong is fro Alphonse Debain, Paris c. 1883-1911. A truly glorious set that consists of the following:
18pc Dinner Forks
12pc Dinner or Soup Spoons
12pc Entremet Forks
12pc Entremet Spoons
12pc Teaspoons
7pc Hors d'Oeuvre set with Sugar Tongs
Tea strainer
Asparagus or Pastry Cuff or Tong
8pc Serving Set Including 13" Soup Ladle
Fitted Oak Chest with Three Layers, Working Lock & Key
Very good to excellent condition. Some pieces have very faint scuffs, marks indicative of having been very well cared for and only slight use. As noted above, the asparagus cuff appears to be a replacement but fits in the chest space/fitting perfectly and there is one tiny salt spoon missing. The chest, as you can see, is also in great shape with a polished brass handle on top, escutcheon and working lock with key. All thick, heavy old French sterling silver and the total weight of all pieces (estimated based on single piece weights) is 5296 grams or 170.3 troy ounces. Amazing!