Louis XV Style Silver Pouring Service With A Pair Of Turtle Doves. Paris, 19th Century

Beautiful and very pleasant four-piece POURING SERVICE in 950 thousandths Silver. - Model called "De Mariage" - in Louis XV finery composed of a Teapot, a Coffee Pot, a covered Sugar Bowl and a Milk Jug adorned on their entire smooth body with enveloping Rocaille motifs (volutes, scrolls, foliage and leafy clasps of grained acanthus; shells and half-shells decorated with floral clasps) finely chiseled setting delicately engraved cartouches of feminine floral motifs. The Swan Neck spouts and handles are similarly worked. Their lids topped with a fretel animated by a pair of Turtle Doves. "- This Tea and Coffee set is presented on its silver-plated metal Serving tray in the model. Quality French goldsmith work from the second half of the 19th century. Minerva's Head Hallmark Silver 1st Title - Master Goldsmith's Hallmark carved, difficult to identify. Gross weight: g. ---- A very Spring-like "Wedding" Model... Resting on a quadripod base with ample leafy scrolls of grained acanthus embellished with clasps of pretty spring blossoms treated "au naturel", each piece of this very attractive Pouring Service is adorned on its smooth body, hemmed with a frieze of gadroons, concentric fillets, finely engraved cartouches. Delicate scrolls, feminine stems, garlands and flowery sheaves of a very feminine grace enclose their slightly scalloped shapes. Equipped with isolation boxes (teapot and coffee pot), their handles with strong shoulders are made of rudentated half-shells facing curvilinear profiles underlined by foliated acanthus volutes; those, approaching the pot-bellied shape of the sugar bowl, are chiseled with enveloping foliage punctuated by a central clasp. Silhouetted in swan necks, the spouts of the two centerpieces of this Tea and Coffee service are haloed with panache on their generous curves with "rocaille" shells, scrolls, volutes with crooks and foliated foliage from the ornamental repertoire of the Louis XV Style. With a lobed slope, that of the milk jug is enhanced under its undulating edges with combs joined by a "sculptural" bell-shaped motif. Hinged (teapot, coffee pot) or removable (sugar bowl), their lids are crowned on their truncated cone shape with a fretel with a delightful animal motif depicting, above corolla-shaped foliage, a small pair of Venusian Turtle Doves-birds symbolizing loving tenderness, pecking Hymen. All the pieces stand on a Serving Tray of the model. Rectangular in shape, it has a slightly concave border with a scalloped profile festooned with acanthus foliage scrolls, floral clasps; its side grips punctuated with lush palmette shells. Gentle exuberance, gracefully fretted curve, charm and ornamental coquetry individualize this convivial Pouring Service for women in Louis XV attire which, by its sentimental theme (florilegium of spring flowers associated with the Venusian Couple of Turtle Doves), will constitute in these spring times a thoughtful Present for any Nuptial event. Materials: Cast and chiseled silver; silver metal for the tray. Marks and Signature: Minerva Head Hallmark. France, 1st Title Silver (950 thousandths) and guaranteed as it is carved after 1848 - Master Goldsmith's Hallmark inscribed in a diamond with acronyms and name difficult to read. Beautiful French goldsmith work in Louis XV-Rocaille style from the second half of the 19th century. Very good condition of conservation. No dents. Micro-scratches from use