Elegant Set of 12 Silver Oyster Forks By Hénin

An Elegant Suite of 12 Antique French Silver Oyster Forks, by ‘Maîtres Orfèvres’ Hénin and Fils.

The forks are done in the simple yet elegant Baguette Ecusson style, which loosely translates to ‘Baguette and shield’.
The shield is topped by acanthus leaves and bears an SLR Monogram.
The work is particularly refined and the set very elegant.

They are perfect to hold and handle with a really great shape.
Each fork has both the Minerva 1 Silver title on the handle and the Minerva 2 on the Tines, which is done for more solidity.
They are in excellent condition and come in their original presentation box.
Sets of 18 were much rarer then Sets of 12 and usually showed a higher social status, this is enhanced by the location of the monogram on the reverse of the fork, which meant the tines were set on the table cloth instead of the back of the fork.

The height given is that of one fork.

The Hallmark is Minerva 1-1st title (950/1000) – 1838 -1919 – Paris on Handle
Minerva 2 2nd title (800/1000) on the tines – 1838 /1919 – Paris

The Makers Mark is for HENIN and Fils. It shows an H and F topped by a branch and a star underneath the letters.
The Mark was registered in 1872 and gave way to Henin and Compagnie in 1875
Their shop was located at 33 Rue Des Archives in the Marais area of Paris.

France 19th Century c.H: 5.74"Reference number: SST-318