Gothic Style Antique French Silver Menus Holders by Cardeilhac

Rare Set of 5 Antique French Silver Gothic Style Menu Holders by ‘Maître Orfèvre’ Ernest Cardeilhac.

These fun Antique French Silver Menus Holders are decorated a gothic style imitating stained glass with polished and darkened silver.
The decor mimics a stained glass window with small flowers and geometric shapes standing out and creating a DG Monogram.
The are held in the back by floral scrolls doublings as stands.

Made entirely out of silver they have slots in the back which allows sliding the menus.
These lovely menu holders will be perfect for a final touch on a formal dinner or during the holiday season.

The Hallmark is Minerve 1 -1st title (950/1000) – 1838 to 1919 – Paris

The Makers Mark is for Ernest CARDEILHAC, and shows an E and a C topped by a medal of honor with a crescent below.
His mark was registered in 1851 and canceled in 1904.
The story of the House of Cardeilhac deserves a bit more details.
The founder of the dynasty was Vital Antoine Cardeilhac who registered his marks in 1817, then 1820 and finally cancelled them in 1851. A wonderful artist Cardeilhac, very early on, specialized in Cutlery and is considered the reason for the change of shapes the knives would see by the second part of the century (going from round edges to tapered edges).
His son, Armand Edouard took over in 1851 and in turn schooled his own son into the trade. Ernest CARDEILHAC managed the establishment on his own starting 1885, until he retired in 1904, leaving the House to his sons Peter and James.
The HOUSE OF CARDEILHAC was active until 1951 when it was absorbed by CHRISTOFLE.
The last know address for the house of Cardeilhac was number 24 on the famed Place Vendôme in Paris.

France 19th Century c.H: 1.77"W: 3.62"D: 1.18"Reference number: SST-394