Photo Credit: moniques-antiques2
Set of 1830s French Silver-Gilt Teaspoons in Louis XVI Style
Buy It Now Price: $371.25 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This magnificent set of 11 French silver-gilt teaspoons from the 1830s features an ornate Louis XVI style with laurel leaves, scrollwork and torches.
-The set weighs 209.7 grams (6.74 troy ounces) of solid .950 fine silver in aggregate. Each individual spoon is 19.06 grams (0.6128 troy ounces) in weight and 5.625 inches (14.3 cm) long.
-This set of French silver-gilt teaspoons has all the appropriate hallmarks for the 1830s: the head of Hippocrates facing right (indicating the First Quality .950 fine standard used between 1819 and 1838) and a Greek mask (representing the Paris guaranty mark for medium-sized items). There are other hallmarks as well (including the maker’s mark), but they cannot be identified from the photos provided.
-These fine solid silver teaspoons have been fire gilt! Fire gilding, also known as mercury gilding, is a near-legendary type of gold-plating. Unfortunately, the art of fire gilding gradually died out in the mid 19th century due to the introduction of the cheaper (but inferior) electroplating method.
-According to the seller, these French silver-gilt teaspoons were made by Charles-Salomon Mahler – a prolific silversmith who operated in Paris between 1824 and 1838.
-Even though these spoons have a medallion at the end of their handles meant to accommodate a monogram, they have never been personalized. The fact that these lovely old teaspoons are not monogrammed will tend to boost their value slightly.
-Although there are many different kinds of old European silver available to the discerning collector, in my opinion French silver has the perfect combination of decorative flair and understated charm. This is in contrast to German silverware, which is often too stiff, and British silver, which can be too conservative in its decoration.
-Antique French silver is substantially undervalued in today’s marketplace. The fact that you can pick up this set of 180 year old French silver-gilt teaspoons for only $371 – less than $34 per spoon – is proof enough!
Cons:
-Antique silver flatware can be either double-struck or single-struck. Double-struck means that the design elements are present on both sides of the handle, while single-struck means they are only on the front. Unfortunately, this set of French silver-gilt teaspoons is single-struck with a blank reverse, which is less desirable and valuable than more ornate double-struck versions.
Read more fascinating Antique Sage antique silver spotlight posts here.
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