Continental silver filigree, unmarked, possibly French, second half of the 17th century

comprising: an ecuelle and cover, a casket with hinged cover and an etui containing silver-gilt spoon, cannon-handled knife and fork with steel blades and tines, finely decorated openwork wire frames incorporating stamped flowerheads, birds and masks, the knife fork and spoon probably late 17th century, the dog nose spoon with maker's mark only IIP

Provenance:

Formerly in the collection of Lady Charlotte Schrieber (1812-1895) and thence by descent. Lady Charlotte was an extraordinary woman, who in later life became a widely travelled and formidable collector. Her porcelain, playing cards and fans were bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert and British museums in 1885 and 1891. Compare the work of the casket with the steel base of a watch in the Louvre attributed to a Paris workshop 3rd quarter of the 17th century, in Michèle Bimbenet-Privat, Les Orfèvres et L'Orfèvrerie de Paris au XVIIe Siècle, vol II, p.490