Gorgeous antique French hallmarked sterling silver 3pc dinner sized flatware setting for ONE with ornate Louis XIV or Rococo Revival style pattern and in the origina fitted sotrage and/or presentation box! Lovely, as French as they come with scrolling tendrils, rocaille and foliate pattern with "TM" or "MT" monograms on the backs of the handles. All pieces except the knife bear the French Minerve or Minerva hallmark, the tiny number "1" within those marks means they're in .950 or better silver (95% pure and so just over the .925 standard for "sterling" silver). Silversmith marks on the fork and spoon for Veuve Ernest Compere, Paris circa 1890. "Veuve" means widow. Mrs Ernest Compere took over the company after the death of her husband and produced exquisite silver for a time. The knife is not original but included, it bears marks on the blade that reads "Stephane Orfevre 3 Rue Tronchet", most likely for Prud'homme Stéphane, succeeded in 1928 to Prud'homme Ernest. A beautiful set.
Very good condition. The knife is not original to the fork & spoon, in the French tradition it's poor form to give knives as gifts since it symbolized the "cutting" of the relationship. Roughly of the same age though, possibly even a bit older and works wonderfully. Since the knife blade is pre-stainless steel, it does have visible age tarnish or corrosion. Faint surface scuffs to the fork & spoon, as you would expect from very light use and age. See images for all weights and measurements.
