A c.1900 Louis XV Italian Estate Silver Plated 201-piece Cutlery Service for 24 – by Manufacture de L’Alfenide/Christofle & Antonio Giacché, Milan. - Italy, 1870-1920

An antique silver plated canteen of cutlery, consisting of 201 pieces. Hailing from the area of Milan, the set can be dated to the period between 1870-1920. The pieces in a violin-shaped Louis XV pattern of scrollwork, leaves and foliate details.

The backsides adorned with an aristocratic coat of arms – testifying that the set once belonged to the Sormani family, counts of Missaglia (1648-). The shields with a crown of 9 pearls and a lion passante atop alternating bands of blue and gold. The violin-shaped pieces in the style of Louis XV, decorated with acanthus curls, volutes and a flower bud at the top of the stem.  The canteen purchased at "Argenteria Antonio Giacché" in Milan, of which the gold embroidered logo on the inside of the cutlery cassette testifies. Giacché also forged and assembled the knives' blades. It is quite likely that the whole was collected over a longer period of time, instead of being purchased all at once.

The handmade canteen with polished brass handles, a hinged lid with red velvet inlay and four numbered, removable drawers.

Consisting of;

- 24 table forks (21.5cm)
- 24 table knives (27cm)
- 24 spoons (19cm)
- 48 appetizer/dessert knives (21.3cm)
- 24 appetizer/dessert forks (18cm)
- 24 oyster forks (14.5cm) (in the "Fillet" model - B.Bohrmann, Frankfurt c. 1870)
- 24 coffee spoons (14.5cm)

- Large soup spoon
- Carving set (fork + knife)
- 2 serving spoons
- 2 Wet fruit spoons with openwork bowls
- 2 asparagus tongs

- 201 pcs total.

The pieces in good condition commensurate with age. Wear present is limited to minor scratching from use . The soldered-on coat of arms has been lost in the past from about 10% of the parts. Note that the knife-blades are steel, not stainless steel, and that some show discolouration that might be removed by a professional metalworker. Eleven appetizer/dessert knives are worn.

Makers - and their hallmarks:

The vast majority of the cutlery is made by Manufacture de L'Alfenide, a Parisian silversmith - and later a subsidiary of Christofle - which was active from about 1850 until at least the 1920s.

These parts are marked with [ALFENIDE in square] [Goat's head with notation 84 in rhombus within square]

Below is a detailed description of creators and maker marks:

Table forks:    23 pieces Man.Alfenide - 1 piece with other Paris maker's mark
Table knives: 23 pieces Man.Alfenide - blades of the knives marked "Argenteria Antonio Giacche, Milano"
                            ​ 1 missing table knife has been replaced by us with a suitable table knife of approximately the same size.
Spoons:             18 pieces Man. Alfenide - 5 pieces with different Paris maker's mark. 1 spoon has been replaced by us with a matching silver plated spoon
Appetizer/dessert knives: 48 pieces Man. Alfenide - blades of the knives marked "Argenteria Antonio Giacche, Milano"
Appetizer/dessert forks: 24 pieces Man. alfenide

Coffee spoons: 15 pieces Man. Alfenide - 9 pieces Christofle, Paris.

Oyster forks:     24 pieces marked "B.Bohrmann, Frankfurt - [B-Kaars-B][E.P. & E.M.C] This maker's mark was in use from 1860 to 1888.

Serving cutlery: The wet fruit spoons unmarked, other serving cutlery Man. alfenide.

For further inquiry, please contact us.