Paris, Circa 1880 – Silver Fish Serving Set In Sterling Silver By émile Huignard, Goldsmith

Elegant fish serving set composed of a serving knife and matching fork by Parisian silversmith ÉMILE HUIGNARD.

The polished silver handles feature a refined décor of dotted bands (semis de pois), terminating in an oval cartouche delicately outlined with dotted double fillets, ribbon motifs and foliage—left blank for engraving. The collars are adorned with gadroons resting on acanthus leaves in low relief, a motif repeated at the terminals, completed by stylised seeds.

The knife blade and fork head are crafted in silver-plated metal and beautifully pierced throughout. The blade is decorated with scrolling foliage and a pair of fish; the fork with stylised acanthus and fine engraved details. This high-quality pierced work demonstrates both technical precision and ornamental richness.

Hallmarks:
• Minerva head (1st standard) – French guarantee mark for sterling silver
• Maker’s mark for ÉMILE HUIGNARD

Condition report:
Minor surface scratches and signs of use. Overall in very good antique condition.
The substantial gauge of both the blade and fork enhances the quality of the pierced decoration, which remains sharp and crisp without compromising the solidity of the ensemble.

ÉMILE HUIGNARD
Émile HUIGNARD succeeded his father Alexandre, a cutlery silversmith active from 1854 to 1866 at 3 rue de Bretagne in Paris. He registered his own maker’s mark on 13 January 1880. Still active in 1900, he later moved to 4 rue Thorigny. HUIGNARD specialised in fine cutlery and serving pieces—fish servers, pastry trowels, coffee and tea spoons.

Several of his works, including vermeil spoons and a silver pastry server, are illustrated in David ALLAN’s reference book Le Couvert et la coutellerie de table française du XIXᵉ siècle^[1].