Lovely complete 29pc antique French Napoleon III to Belle Epoque era genuine carved horn handled table knife & serving utensil set, ornate silver collars or ferules, "Paris" marked blades and in the original layered storage and/or presentation box or chest! Another of our Paris finds. No silver hallmarks but we're pretty confident that the collars on all but the salad serving pair are in .800 to sterling silver. All with the original pre-stainless steel plates so that'd date them before 1920. Some tarnish marks visible but all are in great shape for age and materials, perfectly usable and with immense French style & charm. The set includes twelve each in the larger dinner and smaller luncheon or entremet knives, a meat carving knife & fork with gigot and a salad serving spoon & fork. Lovely, elegant, perfect to accompany a fine antique French sterling silver table service!
A note about knives: A traditional wedding gift, these magnificent French sterling silver flatware sets were almost always packaged without knives. Why is this? Another French tradition has to do with the gift of knives or a knife as a symbol of the cutting or ending of a relationship. And no where on earth is tradition more important, perhaps, than to the French culture. So, in light of the symbolism of the gift, knives were not part of a wedding gift, not packaged or even usually made with the matching pattern of the forks, spoons in a set, and are something added later and as compliments to the table's sterling silver choice. And ever the center influence in fashion, this also opportuned the happy result of knives made in coordinating and complimenting fashion with handles of rich elegant mother of pearl, fine ivory, blond natural horn, or exotic hardwoods like ebony (a French Empire 'must') walnut, rosewood. The result is that you can add sets of knives to compliment and define your table setting.\r\rMore about knives: Louis XIV, A rennaisance man if ever there were one, The Sun King - builder of Versailles, was also the man responsible for the design of the modern table knife. Prior to his time, knives used at table were similar to knives used to kill game, fight wars, and possibly kill Kings. There was a time when knives were even banned from table for such intrigues, and it was Louis XIV's table upon which the blunt and rounded tip knives for dining were introduced to the world at large
Very good condition. The box is a bit beaten up at the joints but nothing is coming apart and both clasps are intact along with the brass handle on the lid. The interior nicely preserved with all original linings and fittings. See pictures for all individual weights and measurements.
