Listing is for one but I have a pair if a matching set is desired. Awesome French sterling silver footed salt with a lion head on each side amidst other victorian motifs including a garland of laurel leaves and, greek key designs, and ribbons. The salt has a glass crystal insert (please see condition notes below). The inside is beautifully goldwashed / vermeil gold plated providing a warm glow from the inside while in use. This is made of. 950 (Better than Sterling) Silver as it has more parts per thousand of purse silver than our American Sterling standard dictates at. These are antique pieces that I acquired in France from the late 1800s / turn of the century. This is stamped with the maker’s mark for Alphonse Debain who operated in Paris from 1883 to 1911 which helps us accurate date the piece to the Belle Epoque period. Dish measures about 3 inches by 2 1/4 inches at the base which is wider, and it narrows as it extends towards the rim. 1 3/8 inches tall. Marked with the French 1st title Minerve head hallmark for 950 (better purity / more silver than American Sterling) Silver. The silver is In good estate condition considering age. One of the crystal inserts has one chip I will sell this one first. The other ones has several chips to the rim, about 6 of them. When they are nested into the silver base, it is not very noticeable as the silver rim overlaps it. But it is a bit sharp there and you can definitely see the unevenness so please see photos closely. I don’t see any pin dings or dents to the silver. Very nice patina and shine. Surface wear and scratches from use and polish over the years. Dish is still vibrant in color with the warm gold vermeil plating over the silver. I don’t see any major areas of wear. Please see photos closely as this is not a mint condition piece due to age of over 110 years. Thanks for stopping by my store! The item “LION Victorian French 950 STERLING Silver Salt Dish Belle Epoque Greek Key Bows” is in sale since Monday, April 19, 2021. This item is in the category “Antiques\Silver\Sterling Silver (.925)\Salt Cellars”. The seller is “callmemouse” and is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Purity: 950 parts per 1000
- Era: Victorian, Belle Epoque, Art Nouveau
- Style: Victorian
- Age: 1850-1899
- Pattern: Lion
- Composition: Sterling Silver
- Brand: Alphonse Debain