émile Puiforcat Silver And Vermeil Mignardises Set.

This service is extremely rare in more ways than one.
Firstly, it consists of five pieces, rather than the usual four, as a superb sugar tong completes the set.
Secondly, it has a very unusual style.
The handle of each of the four usual pieces features a knight in armor, depicted from the front and from the back for 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 shield in the right hand is decorated with a splendid monogram worthy of the finest illuminations, surmounted by a nine-pointed crown. From the back, the knight is wearing a long sword on his left hip.
All the decorations are of the finest quality, including the knights' faces, fingers and equipment, as well as the beautifully openwork or chased spoons.
The spoons on each piece are vermeiled, as is the ribbon around the handle, while the sugar tongs are vermeiled throughout.
Each piece bears the hallmark of master goldsmith Émile Puiforcat, with the letters E P in a lozenge framing a penknife, and the Minerve mark for 1st-rate silver (950 thousandths). The total weight of the 13 cm to 14.5 cm pieces is 167g.
There's no doubt that we're in the presence of an extremely rare, top-quality set worthy of the finest showcases!