Delicate Antique French Silver Ice Cream Set by Emile Puiforcat

Lovely and Delicate Antique French Silver And Vermeil (18 carat gold) 14 piece Ice Cream Flatware service by ‘Maitre Orfèvre’ Emile Puiforcat.

This very refined set shows beautiful details and features 12 individual spoons and 2 service items.
All pieces showcase the Manche A La Russe or Russian Style handles, carved with a ribbon like motif dotted with rosettes. The handles end with an acanthus motif and a flower knob.
Each spoon is chiseled with a lovely spray of leaves and flower.
The details are incredibly refined and delicate, just gorgeous.

The set is originally devised for ice cream, but can be used as a dessert set as well.
The set is in Silver and ‘Vermeil’ or gold plated silver and is beautifully preserved, with no dents to the pieces or losses, just exquisite!
There is no wear to the vermeil.
The set is presented in its original box which is in good condition…

The individual spoons are 5.2 inches long / The Service Spoon is 9.13 inches long /The sickle shaped knife measures 10.1 inches.

The Hallmark is Minerva 1 First title Silver (950/1000) for Paris 1838/1919- On the handles and the service pieces.
The Hallmark is Boar’s Head on the spoon bowls of the individual spoons.

The Makers Mark is for Emile PUIFORCAT, and was registered in 1857; it features an E and a P separated by a standing feather.
The mark is still so famous it does deserve a bit more explanations:
Emile PUIFORCAT inherited the business from his uncle Jean Baptiste FUCHS who specialized in flatware in the early 1800s. Emile Puiforcat moved from the offices of his uncle right next door at number 18, then 16 of Rue Chapon. While he died in 1883, his mark was kept by his successor as well as his grandson Jean, who passed away in 1945.
Until the 1880 the House of Puiforcat remained in the flatware business, but expended into the larger pieces to include presentations plates and platters.
Though very praised for its craftsmanship PUIFORCAT never participated in the Fairs that did so much for the Silver business in the 1800. The house continued on through the years and was finally bought by Hermes in 1993.

France 19th Century c.Reference number: SST-386