A classic 19th century French 2nd standard (900/1000 pure silver) tastevin, inset at the base with a 1702 coin bearing the likeness of King Louis XIV surrounded by the legend translated as "Louis XIV by grace of god King of France and Navarre." The bowl of the tastevin is finished with the typical arrangement of "perles" and elongated "godrons" designed to create reflections in the wine to better judge its color and clarity...

A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form by master silversmith Alexandre Vauger. This example is of small size, intended for use in evaluating cognac, Armagnac or calvados instead of wine. Unlike the “perles” and “godrons” found on the walls of a wine taster, a cognac taster more accurately reflects the liquid’s color using a smooth surface...

A Pair of Silver Open Salts with a clear glass liner; from Germany (Augsburg?), dating from the late 19th century. An open work design features a mythological figure of a bird/animal. The dimensions are 3.5" x 1.5" x 2.5" high. There is one original spoon with the set.

A classic 19th century French silver tastevin of traditional form and the bottom inset with a silver coin from the reign of Louis XV. The sides of the tastevin are decorated with the traditional raised "perles" and recessed "cupules" for viewing the depth of color in a wine. The coin, dating to 1726, depicts the profile of the king surrounded by the legend "Louis XV, by grace of God, king of France and Navarre." The reverse of the coin can be seen from the bottom of the tastevin...

A classic 19th century French second standard (800/1000 pure silver) silver tastevin of traditional form and the bottom inset with a silver coin from the reign of Louis XV. The sides of the tastevin are decorated with the traditional raised “perles,” recessed “cupules,” and elongated “godrons” for assessing the depth of color and concentration of a wine...

A Dutch Silver Quaiche Bowl (Scottish Drinking Bowl or Friendship bowl). Embossed Decoration of Village Scenes, Including Windmills. Dimensions 7.75" across x 4.25" deep x 3.25" high; weight 8.7 Troy ounces. Excellent condition. Circa 1890

Unique Footed Silver (800) "Repousse" German Silver Sauce Boat. Elegant Scenes on Both Sides. One End Shaped into a Curved Handle as Part of the Body; Circa 1870-1890. Weight 4.7 Troy ounces; Dimensions 5" wide x 3.5" high. Excellent condition. Note that the details are crisper than in the photos.

A lovely first standard (950/1000) silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a 1658 silver coin depicting the youthful image of Louis XIV surrounded by text translated as "Louis XIV, by grace of God, King of France and Navarre." The sides of the tastevin a decorated with clusters of grapes and elegantly curved godrons in the style typical of Orfevre Parrod. Coin inserts, however, are unusual in Parrod tastevins. The handle is worked in a simplified snake motif typical of Dijon...

A delightful early 19th century French silver tastevin featuring a 1770 Louis XV coin and a wonderfully decorated handle. The handle decoration depicts a man seated atop a wine barrel grasping a wine bottle in one hand and a Cupid's arrow in the other. The design is completed with the legend "Vive l'amour et le vin" ("Long live love and wine."). This type of handle was developed in the early 1700s and was used mostly in the Burgundy region...

A Grand Continental (German) Silver Tea & Coffee Set, with a total weight of 95.7 Troy ounces. The Tea Pot weighs 30.5 Troy ounces and is 9.5" high x 12.5" wide; the Coffee Pot weighs 26.9 Troy ounces and is 10.5" high x 10" wide; the creamer weighs 10.5 Troy ounces and is 6" high x 7.5" wide; the two handled sugar weighs 12.8 Troy ounces and is 6.5" wide x 6" high; the milk jug. The set is from the late 19th century. It is in excellent condition.

A fine first-standard (950/1000 pure) silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a silver 5-franc coin from the reign of Louis Philippe. The coin has good detail, the front showing a bust of the king in profile, while the bottom shows a laurel wreath enclosing the words “5 Francs/1846”. The coin is surrounded by repousse decoration of angled godrons, small convex perles and larger concave cupules...

A Highly Decorated (with Cupids) Sterling Silver Coffee Pot from Augsburg, Germany, circa 1860-1880. Dimensions 9" high x 9.5" from handle to spout; weight 33 Troy ounces. Excellent condition.

A superb late 19th century first standard (950/1000 pure) silver berry spoon with a shell-form gilt bowl. These spoons were originally intended for serving strawberries. The front of the handle is decorated with a twisting wreath of holly leaves and berries, and the back with a similar wreath of thistles. The bowl is beautifully worked in the shape of a scallop shell. Improvements in agriculture and railways made strawberries widely available to the wealthy classes in the 1870s...

French Silver Louis XVIII Burgundian Style Wine Taster Tastevin An unusually heavy first standard (950/1000 pure silver) French tastevin decorated in the classic Burgundian style with punchwork grape clusters and a coiled snake handle. The grapevines are also accented with engraved flowers. The bottom has the center pinpoint found in tastevins from this period and is finished simply with a ring or shallow godrons around the edge to help reflect light through the wine...

A genuine late 17th to mid 18th century hand made openwork European grade sterling pierced strainer or ladle with a gilded bowl. This unusual 8" ladle has a gilt and pierced 2-3/8" x 2" bowl with a pouring lip, and would be a slightly higher than 800 grade silver. The openwork handle has wonderfully ornate hand made wire-work with two central medallions, which have never been engraved/monogrammed. The handle is completely hand made and it is applied to the bowl with a rat-tail...

German Baroque Classical silver wine beaker, 17th century. Urn bowl with three splayed ball supports. Clusters of fruits and vegetables and pendant ribbon bows. At top engraved presentation on occasion of child born in 1699. Gilt-washed interior. Marks include Nurnberg city stamp and maker’s stamp “I H / M”. Good condition with minor dents.

Overall dimensions: H 3 1/4 x W 2 5/8 x D 2 5/8 in. Weight: 2.2 troy ounces. #BW398