Bidspirit auction | Pair of antique French serving

Pair of antique French serving utensils from the 19th century (circa 1850), featuring .950 silver handles and carved bone serving elements, comprising a matching serving spoon and serving fork designed in the elegant Louis XVI Revival style, bearing the official French Minerva Head hallmark confirming solid French silver under official government control. Total weight: 115.1 grams. - Pair of antique French serving utensils from the 19th century (circa 1850), featuring .950 silver handles and carved bone serving elements, comprising a matching serving spoon and serving fork designed in the elegant Louis XVI Revival style, bearing the official French Minerva Head hallmark confirming solid French silver under official government control. Total weight: 115.1 grams. The set reflects the refined Louis XV / Louis XVI Revival aesthetic with strong French Rococo Revival influences, a style highly fashionable among the Parisian aristocracy and upper bourgeoisie during the Napoleon III period. Each piece is designed with elegant elongated lines and gracefully rounded handles featuring classic French proportions. At the end of each handle appears an engraved decorative monogram within a richly ornamented oval cartouche adorned with beaded borders, foliate motifs, and botanical ornamentation typical of aristocratic French silverware from the 19th century. The silversmithing craftsmanship is exceptionally refined and of very high quality, with meticulous attention to detail and luxurious finishing characteristic of tableware produced for wealthy European families and noble households. The handles are crafted from solid silver, while the serving elements themselves are made of finely carved natural bone, a combination highly popular in luxurious French serving utensils of the 19th century. The fork features three long and elegantly shaped tines, while the spoon is formed with a wide oval bowl and soft flowing lines. The transition between the silver handles and carved serving sections is executed with refined craftsmanship and elegant proportions. Total weight: 115.1 grams. Fork weight: 58.46 grams. Spoon weight: 56.64 grams. The pieces bear the official French Minerva Head hallmark, used in France from the 19th century onward to certify and control silver purity. This hallmark confirms solid French silver of .950/1000 fineness under official assay supervision. The set is housed in its original fitted presentation box lined with dark blue fabric, adding significant decorative and collectible appeal. Condition: Overall very good condition consistent with age, showing signs of use and natural patina. Condition of the items is as shown in the photographs.