Antique French sterling silver 14 piece tea service. The service includes an over the cup tea strainer and matching sugar tongs. As well as a complete set of 12 teaspoons, coffee, moka or espresso spoons. Each piece is richly decorated in 18K gold vermeil finish. The tea strainer features a neoclassical leaf and dart pattern surrounding a finely pierced bowl, topped by an intricate palmette finial. The handles and service ends patterned with ornate Empire styling comprising of palmettes, acanthus and stylized foliage, sprigs of laurel and rosettes. Superb quality and exquisite ornamentation to this set. Each piece is marked with the post 1838 French Minerva 1st standard hallmark indicating .950/1000 silver (95% pure silver and higher than .925 sterling). Maker's marks are for silversmith Alphonse Debain, 1883-1911, at 79 rue du Temple, Paris. In overall very good antique condition. Spoons are 4 7/8" length. Tea strainer is 6 3/8". Sugar tongs measure 4 7/8" length. Total weight of the silver is 320.2 grams. The set is complete and housed in the original fitted presentation box. The box shows general wear from use and age. Box measures 13" x 12 1/4" x 2 3/8" height.