Antique French Sterling Silver Wine Taster with Minerva and Maker's Hallmarks!

Description

A delightful early French solid silver wine taster is for sale. It has a circular bowl with lobed and embossed bunches of grapes as a decorated embellishment. The base is inset with a 1838 5 Francs coin.  The handle is inscribed with a heart, a wine bottle and a pipe.  The top of the handle is engraved with the words TOUR TOUR.  There are also two engraved flowers on opposite ends of the handle whose centers have the hallmarks; one, the 1st Standard French Silver hallmark, the other, the Maker's hallmark. Overall, the wine taster is in very good condition, with no damage or repairs.  It is 4.25 inches or 115 mm in diameter.  It is good gauge silver weighing 2.8 ounces or 80 grams.  It is hallmarked on both the handle and the bowl for 1st Standard French silver (post 1838). The maker's hallmark is present on the bowl with an M P with an arrow between the two letters but the P letter is faint. The Maker's hallmark on the handle of the M and P with the arrow in the middle are very distinct. The M and P with an arrow between: un Fleche is the Hallmark of Marc Parrod from Dijon, France. This Hallmark was active from 1903-1944.  The thumb handle shows detailed etchings of a bottle, heart, flowers and a pipe which add a country feel to the piece and give it a casual fun loving enjoyment of life. The inner bowl is decorated with bunches of grapes in detailed relief which creates a feeling of depth.  This is truly an amazing piece, exquisitely made with an enormous amount of detail and craftsmanship.  A true art form which is rarely seen today. This is a piece I truly treasure but I'm letting it go so someone else can enjoy it!!! Shipping will be by FedEx Ground, not USPS.