Wonderful antique French Louis-Philippe era sterling silver 13.5" oil & vinegar cruet stand or caddy, Aesthetic styling with ribbed center handle & bordering, large ball feet and two wheel cut crystal decanters! Elegant, I just love these old French silver pieces and this one leaves very, very little to be desired. 1819-1838 French Michel-Ange hallmarks on all separate pieces (Michelangelo profile), the tiny number "1" within those marks designating .950 silver content (95% pure silver and higher than the .925 standard for "sterling" silver). The silversmith marks are there but partially illegible and I've not been able to find a reference for them. There is one post-1838 Minerve or Minerva hallmark so the piece must date to 1838, during the transition from Michel-Ange to Minerva. Two thick & heavy crystal claret style decanters with handles & hexagonal shaped or cut stoppers. An exceptional piece, don't miss it!
Very good condition. A small nip or two is possible to the decanters and/or stoppers but no large chips, no cracks or repairs there. One of the stoppers appears to be a custom made replacement, with the same top shaping but no faceted stem and fits but is not 'snug' like the other original is. A minor dimple or two possible but no large dents, damage or repairs to note. The piece stands steady but may have a slight bend at one or two corners, just above the ball feet. The silver alone weighs 22.6 troy ounces or 704 grams. See pictures for measurements.
