Elegant Antique French Silver Dessert Set By Puiforcat~Sold~

A Beautiful French Antique Silver 4 piece Dessert Set and matching 12 Knives by Emile PUIFORCAT.

This original set is in its original box, which shows only light scruff marks on the outside of it. The pieces are etched in Regency style with an acanthus leaves display as well as a tulip garland decorating the handles.
The Main service items are gold washed on particular parts in order to better highlight the design.

In this set you will find, going from top to bottom on the first photo:
A Pie Cutter and Server with the blade gold washed (12.20 inches long)
Then comes a Sugar Sifter Spoon with the bowl delicately pierced (8.66 inches long)
It is followed by a Strawberry Service Spoon with its typical scallop shell design(8.66 inches long)
Then finally Sugar Tongs with their ends carved into lion’s paws (6.69 inches long)

The pieces are sold with their 12 cheese knives which are decorated with the same details on the handles and have Silver blades.
The knives measure 8.26 inches.

The silver weight given below does not include the knives silver blades.

All pieces are in great state.

The Hallmark is Minerva 1-1st title – 1838 -1919 – Paris

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.

Reference number: SST-218