Magnificent & rare antique French PUIFORCAT hallmarked sterling silver 5pc coffee & tea set, a gorgeous service with coffee & tea pot, rare side-handled chocolate pot addition, covered sugar & creamer and all in remarkable condition with a stunning fluted or ribbed Louis XVI style pattern including laurel garland swags, acanthus accents, solid carved rosewood handles, cabriole style legs and all FIVE pieces in as near pristine condition as one could hope for! Beautiful all! The set consists of a tall 38oz capacity coffee pot, 40oz tea pot, 44oz chocolate pot (complete with hinged finial for stirring), sugar bowl or caddy and creamer (both with 18k gold plated "vermeil" interiors) and all simply breathtaking. Overly heavy, too, the set has a total weight of roughly 4040 grams or 130 troy ounces! Several spots on each bear the post-1878 French Minerve or Minerva hallmark, the tiny number "1" within those marks means they're all in .950 silver (95% pure so higher than the .925 standard for "sterling" silver). All pieces bear hallmarks for Maison PUIFORCAT (EP for Emile Puiforcat, Paris). PUIFORCAT, the pinnacle of French silver really and among a handful of names that are recognizable the world over. A long, lauded history of only the finest of the fine and silversmiths to royalty over the years. Now owned by Hermes of Paris, a name & reputation that also needs no explanation. A magnificent and rare complete set, don't miss it!
Excellent condition. Possibly a tiny dimple or two but, as you can see, all pieces are as near pristine as possible. Also notable, the vertical fluting or ridges around the bodies of all pieces are not only gorgeous, but they provide added strength and, along with the overly thick sterling construction, serve to prevent dents or damage...as is evidenced by their current state. See pictures for all individual weights and measurements.
