Charming Set Of 12 Silver Lamb Chop Holders By Bégard

Charming Antique French Silver Set of 12 ‘Manches à Cotelettes’ or Lamb Cutlet Holders by ‘Maitres Orfèvres’ H Bégard & Cie

They are delicately decorated in Louis XV Style with lovely floral designs Rocaille scrolls on the handles.
They are part of all these implements that were created to facilitate meals and particularly to avoid to the diner participants any occasion to dirty their hands while dining….
Hence the little clamps would be fitted in the kitchen onto to the bone of the cutlet and screwed tight, so the guest would simply have to pick up the little handle and tranquilly, as well as cleanly enjoy the little cutlet!

This set is rare because even the little clamps are in silver!
Each piece is marked with an A P monogram.

The pieces are in perfect shape and come in their presentation box.

The Hallmark is ‘Minerve’ 1 -1st title – 1838 -1919– Paris

The Maker’s Mark is for ‘Maitres Orfèvres’ Henri Bégard & Cie.
It shows his initials, & and Cie, with a star above and one underneath.
The Mark was registered on June 1905 and cancelled 5 years later.
His workshop was located 22 rue Michel le Comte in the Marais area of Paris.

France 19th Century c.H: 3.93"Reference number: SST-321