Lovely Silver Louis XVI Style Bonbons Service Set By E Puiforcat

A Gorgeous Antique French Silver and Vermeil Bonbons Service Set by ‘Maître Orfèvre’ Emile Puiforcat.

As usual with this wonderful master the beauty is in every detail.
All 4 pieces are decorated in the Louis XVI Style, with acanthus leaves and delicate laurel leaves and floral garlands.
The work is done in high and low relief, and the artist payed with the use of contrasting gold applied to silver and ‘amati’ silver (dulled silver) to highlight the delicacy of his work.

Starting by looking at the full picture of the implements, on the left hand side we have a delicate candied fruit fork. It measures 5.51 inches.
The second implement is a lovely Fondant ladle; Fondants were a kind of light melting candy. The ladle measures 5.70 inches long.
The 3rd piece is a ‘Bonbons’ Spoon or Candy Spoon, showcasing again the same delicate ‘repercé’ that features on the Fondant spoon it measures 5.31 inches long
The last piece is a delicate Sugar tongs with palms forming the tines, which are 4.72 inches long.
All pieces are in great state! The ‘Vermeil’ wash is intact.
They come in their original presentation box, which is in good condition.

The Hallmark is Minerva 1-1st title (950/1000) – 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.

France 19th Century c.Reference number: SST-332