Émile Puiforcat solid silver and vermeil petit four service.

This service is very rare for several reasons.

First, it consists of five pieces, not the usual four, because a superb sugar tong completes the set. Second, it is of a very unusual style.

The handle of each of the four standard pieces features a knight in armor, shown from the front and back, on the inside and outside of each utensil. There is a knight on each arm of the sugar tongs.

The knight at the base of the handle holds a halberd in one hand and a shield in the other.
The halberd extends the full length of the handle, and its tip forms the attachment for the spoons. It is encircled by a diagonal ribbon on which one can make out, on both sides of the handle, a fleur-de-lis, then a lion, and finally, possibly a bird of prey.

The shield in the right hand is decorated with a splendid monogram worthy of the finest illuminated manuscripts, surmounted by a nine-pointed crown. This count's coronet attests to the status of the fortunate former owners of this set. From the back, a long sword is visible, worn by the knight at his left hip.

All the decorations are exquisitely detailed: the face, the fingers, the knights' equipment, as well as the wonderfully openwork or chased spoons.
The spoons of each piece are gilded, as is the ribbon encircling the handle, while the sugar tongs are entirely gilded.
Each piece bears the hallmark of the master silversmith Émile Puiforcat: the letters E P in a lozenge framing a penknife, and the Minerva mark for 950/1000 silver.
The total weight of the pieces, measuring between 13 cm and 14.5 cm, is 127g. This is the net weight of silver, as the handles are solid and not made of "filled silver," as is often the case. Without a doubt, we are in the presence of an extremely rare and high-quality collection, worthy of the finest display cases!

Ref: JW4SI7RYCL