Another beautiful and hardly used antique boxed set of large serving pieces, the carving or cutlery set with gigot (to anchor on the bone and hold to cut the meat), serving fork and carving knife plus the 2pc salad serving set. The handles are marked with the Minerve #2, guarantee mark for .800/1000 pure silver, just short of sterling but sturdier for service pieces and most often used in these sets. The old carving blade is steel, well-polished (these usually darken with age). The salad set has extended silver handles and at the age, most likely the hard celluloid that mimics an older precious substance. The beautifully preserved set still in presentation box would date c.1910-20, though I can't make out the silversmith's tiny diamond-shaped losing in order to identify and accurately date it. Shell motif and floral, a compliment of several earlier motifs so the set will be beautiful in use with a variety of fine French sterling silver flatware. Large implements! Measurements can be found on photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, the silver has no dents, and only a little very light surface evidence of use. Often these old sets have quite stained salad service, but this set looks to have been hardly used, very little evidence (shown for your review, both sides in photos). Box is even still very nice, with a sort of croc look embossed on covering over the wooden box, fitted for this set. There is evidence there was a break on box top at back, but it's been repaired and opens and closes fine. No warp to it. Interior is very nice, still, in silk velvet and satin. Thick and heavy in the hand pieces you will love using. Knife is very sharp, ready to carve ham, turkey, roasts of all sorts. Beautiful pattern!
