Elegant antique French 18k gold on sterling silver "vermeil" 13pc teaspoon & sugar tongs set with ornate guilloche style machined or engraved pattern, raised acanthus framed medallions with interlaced "CE" monograms & wonderful condition in the original fitted storage and/or presentation box! One of a few beautiful old boxed vermeil tea service utensils we'll be adding in the coming weeks. This set in a gilded finish, actually 18k gold plated silver (we've not tested this set but the French silversmiths nearly always used 18k gold for their vermeil pieces). The post 1838 French Minerve or Minerva head hallmark on all pieces, the tiny number "1" in the upper right corner means they're all in .950 silver under the gold (95% pure and higher than the .925 standard for "sterling" silver). If you look closely at the silversmith marks, you'll see that the sugar tongs bear that of another maker. Not uncommon for silversmiths to collaborate with each other but we think that the tongs must have been replacements or additions to the spoons set due to the dates of manufacture. All pieces have the same medallion and monogram. The silversmith marks on the spoons are for Philippe Berthier, Paris circa 1841-1851. Mark on the tongs is for Alphonse Debain, Paris c. 1883-1911. There is an embossed stamp on the inside of the lid that reads Vve Ducommun, Cette, surely for the French retailer. A lovely set with box and guaranteed to please!
Very good condition! No damage to note other than some visible wear or fading to the vermeil finish here and there, most visible probably on the back sides of the spoon bowls. As noted, the sugar tong is a later piece and so is a replacement or addition but does match. See pictures for all individual weights and measurements.
