Puiforcat : Rare Sterling Silver And Vermeil Ice Cream Service - Japonisme Naturalist Decor

An extremely rare and sublime Solid Silver and Vermeil Ice Cream Set by PUIFORCAT with Japonisme naturalist decoration, the 14-piece service composed of 12 individual Ice Cream Spoons and 2 Serving Pieces. This rare pattern is characterized by its naturalist-stlye silver handles formed by two thin branches (reminiscent of chopsticks) with contrasting Vermeil (Gold on Silver) twisted rope attachments. The ends of all pieces, also in Vermeil, are embellished with a delightful bas-relied decor of foliage and flowers.
Meticulously hand crafted from the highest quality silver, the pieces are puched with either the Minerva 1st Standard (.950) or Boar's Head Hallmark, and mark of celebrated Master Goldsmith Emile PUIFORCAT (Hallmark with the initials "EP" and a penknife) active in 1857. This vey rare and sublime Ice Cream Set with its unique Japonisme naturalist decoration is in very good condition, revised and cleaned by our Goldsmith, and just light signs of use to note. Designed and masterly crafted to grace the finest of tables......
Only one Puiforcat spoon in this pattern is listed in Mr David Allan's reference work listing the most beautiful models of French Goldsmith Cutlery of the 19th century (see among others page 237). Mr Allan has described the pattern as extremely rare (moreover not listed in Puiforcat catalogs) which made him assume that it was a special order. We are fortunate to present to you this complete 14-piece Ice Cream Service.

Length / Weight of the 12 Spoons : 13.3 cm / 201.1 g
Length / Weight of the 2 Serving Pieces : 23.9 and 26 cm / 178 g
Total Weight of Service : 379.1 grams