Stunning & rare antique French hallmarked .800 (nearly sterling) silver 5 1/4" wide purse or hand bad frame, glorious winged griffin or gryphon style figures, thick & heavy and with original silver chain! We've held on to this for years now with the hopes of getting it restored with an elegant old silk or needlepoint bag but, alas, time always being the commodity we're so short of. A magnificent piece, superb detail and the figures are simply amazing! It bears the French Minerve or Minerva hallmark, the curved outer shape and tiny number "2" within that mark means it's in .800 or finer silver content (80% pure so just under the .925 standard for "sterling" silver). The silversmith mark is for Henin & Cie, Paris circa 1896 to early 1900s. Magnificent, don't miss this treasure!
Excellent condition, with a nod to the fact that it's just the frame. I see no damage whatsoever, simply gorgeous. See pictures for weight and all measurements.
