A set consisting of 11 forks and a cake server, featuring a design with a pierced handle, adorned with a *mascaron* (grotesque mask) and a spearhead motif on the tines, in the Renaissance style.

Dimensions: Fork length: [ ] cm – Cake server length: [ ] cm

                      Case: 34 x 35 cm

Material: 1er title silver (950/1000 purity)

Weight: 390 grams

Hallmark: Minerva

Period: Late 19th century, circa 1880

Silversmith: Cardeilhac

Origin: France/Paris

Bibliography: Maison Cardeilhac (1804–1951)

Founded in 1804 by Antoine-Vital Cardeilhac, the house of Cardeilhac quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious Parisian silversmithing firms of the 19th century. Renowned for the quality of its chasing and for designs that were both classical and innovative, the firm excelled in reinterpreting the Louis XV and *Rocaille* (Rococo) styles—aesthetically favored during the Second Empire and the Third French Republic.

Under the successive leadership of his descendants, Cardeilhac participated in the great Universal Expositions in Paris (notably in 1867, 1878, 1889, and 1900), where the firm earned numerous medals and distinctions. It produced refined tableware, prestigious showpieces, and exceptional silver objects, frequently commissioned by an aristocratic and bourgeois clientele.

In 1951, the house of Cardeilhac was acquired by Christofle, which has continued to produce some of its original designs and has preserved the legacy of its craftsmanship. Today, pieces bearing the Cardeilhac signature are highly sought after for their elegance and quality of craftsmanship, exemplifying the golden age of French the silversmith’s art.