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French Belle Epoque Gilt Silver Scallop Shell Bowl Berry Spoon


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Directory: Antiques: Decorative Art: Metals: Silver: Continental: Pre 1900: Item # 1405377
Kensington House Antiques
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Kensington
Maryland
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A superb late 19th century first standard (950/1000 pure) silver berry spoon with a shell-form gilt bowl. These spoons were originally intended for serving strawberries. The front of the handle is decorated with a twisting wreath of holly leaves and berries, and the back with a similar wreath of thistles. The bowl is beautifully worked in the shape of a scallop shell. Improvements in agriculture and railways made strawberries widely available to the wealthy classes in the 1870s. Special implements such as this were needed to compete the experience. Today, it could be used for any sort of desert or even hors d’oeuvres. The spoon is stamped with French silver marks and with an illegible maker’s mark. The quality of workmanship is easily on par with the great makers such as Odiot and Puiforcat.
  • Origin: France, ca. 1880.
  • Dimensions: 8-3/4” long.
  • Condition: mint; gilding completely intact.
  • Weight: 99.5 grams.