Pair 1st quality antique French wine decanters
Pair 1st quality antique French wine decanters
Pair of impressive antique French wine decanters of noble origins. This pair has fine and very heavy, sharply-cut crystal bodies of teardrop-shaped form. Each is adorned with first quality (950 standard or 95%) cast and openwork silver mounts which take the form of spreading foliage, scroll work, floral garlands and leaf aprons.
Each decanter has a crystal stopper and is surmounted by a cover with a highly detailed coronet forming the cover's grip, and the silver feet are also formed into scrolling foliage designs.
French silver is often characterised by high quality and skilled workmanship, both ensured by particularly strict guild rules. Another guarantee of the high standard of French silver is the quality of the metal in itself. France's first quality standard has to be above 958 parts silver per 1000 (95.8% silver) and its second standard is 800/1000 (80% silver). For comparison, most other European countries apply the 800/1000 standard, while Britain's sterling silver standard is 925/1000 (92.5%).
Dimensions:
c1880
Paris
Excellent
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 cast and openwork silver mounts which take the form of spreading foliage, scroll work, floral garlands and leaf aprons. Each decanter has a crystal stopper and is surmounted by a cover with a highly detailed coronet forming the cover's grip, and the silver feet are also formed into scrolling foliage designs.French silver is often characterised by high quality and skilled workmanship, both ensured by particularly strict guild rules. Another guarantee of the high standard of French silver is the quality of the metal in itself. France's first quality standard has to be above 958 parts silver per 1000 (95.8% silver) and its second standard is 800/1000 (80% silver). For comparison, most other European countries apply the 800/1000 standard, while Britain's sterling silver standard is 925/1000 (92.5%).){kind=link}