c1900 French 950 Silver 83pc Art Nouveau Flatware Set Serves 12

Presented is a fantastic quality French silver 83 piece flatware set. The set was made by Victor Boivin and dates to around the turn of the century. The set is done in a lovely Art Nouveau style, with sinuous, flowing ribbonlike designs and realistic honeysuckle or other trumpet type flowers adorning the handles. The knives have beautiful rich ebony handles. The larger knives have stainless steel knives in the New French form, while the smaller knives have carbon steel blades in the Old Blunt form. Each non-knife piece has a monogram of BT in overlapping letters.

The set consists of:

• 24 dinner forks--8 1/2
• 11 dinner knives--9 1/2
• 12 luncheon forks--7
• 12 luncheon knives--8
• 12 tablespoons--8 1/2
• 12 place/oval soup/dessert spoons--7

The set is in great overall condition. The details of the pattern are nice and crisp. The wooden handles have some minor vertical splitting, typical of the age and material, but are still structurally sound and firmly attached to the blades. The silver has no dents, no monogram removals, and no repairs. The fitted cases are clean and in great shape, and have done an excellent job of protecting the set from the effects of time.

Each non-knife piece is hallmarked with the French first standard silver guarantee mark of Minerva's head in a straight-sided punch, guaranteeing 950 purity silver, as well as the maker's mark for Victor Boivin. The larger knives are marked on the blades with Velox and 'Inoxydable' indicating stainless steel. The smaller knives have carbon steel blades marked Jules Piault, Paris.

Due to their wooden handles and particularly the carbon steel blades, the knives should be cleaned and dried after use, as carbon steel is prone to rusting and discoloration and wood may become waterlogged or pitted. The carbon steel blades will darken with use and time, which is perfectly natural for carbon steel blades. Neither the stainless steel nor the carbon steel knives are dishwasher safe.

The total weight for the set is 3687 grams or 130.1 regular ounces. This weight does not include the knives, as the handles and blades are not silver, only the mountings

-jm