Oyster Forks In Solid Silver And Vermeil Victor Boivin Goldsmith

Eleven vermeil oyster forks and solid silver handles adorned with a rich rocaille decoration and monogrammed, all bearing the Minerva hallmark and the Victor Boivin goldsmith hallmark, and all in very good used condition. Length 13 cm. Total weight 268 gr. The goldsmith Victor Boivin took over the workshop of his father, the goldsmith Jules Boivin (active from 1862 to 1881). Victor is also the brother of the famous jeweler René Boivin and the brother-in-law of Jeanne Poiret, the sister of the fashion designer Paul Poiret. René Boivin apprenticed as a goldsmith and engraver with his brother Victor before creating his own business and becoming one of the greatest jewelers of his time. Victor Boivin settled in 1897 in the very elegant and historic Hôtel de Montmorency at 5 rue de Montmorency in the Marais, the goldsmiths' district. The Hôtel de Montmorency, owned by one of the greatest aristocratic families, the Montmorency, was occupied at the start of the reign of Louis XIV by the famous Superintendent of Finance Nicolas Fouquet. His goldsmith's house was taken over by Ravinet d'Enfert at the beginning of the 20th century. Its goldsmith's mark: in a diamond, initials VB framed by 2 stars. The upper star is surmounted by an inverted crescent.