48pc Antique French Sterling Silver Gilt Vermeil Flatware Service, Set for 12, Ornate Empire Motif

Outstanding 48-piece antique Belle Epoque era French sterling silver flatware service. An exceptional sterling silver service for 12, comprising of luncheon spoons, forks and knives and matching tea or coffee spoons. Enhanced with gilt vermeil finish. Richly decorated in Empire style neoclassical foliage along the handles, centered by urns with fruit. Monogrammed with finely engraved interlaced initials DC (Teaspoons not monogrammed). The service ends and upper part of the knife handles feature a charming motif of a quiver of arrows, flaming torch and tambourine surrounded by foliage and trailing ribbon. The knives with .950 sterling silver blades. All housed in the original fitted presentation boxes, each monogrammed DC on the lid to correspond with the flatware. Each piece is fully hallmarked, including knife handles AND blades. Hallmarked with the French Minerve 1st standard mark, which guaranteed the finest quality French sterling silver of .950/1000 purity in use from 1838 (95%