Vintage French sterling silver wine taster sommelier cup, tastevin. Featuring an intricate motif of repousse grape clusters and leaves on the vine, the circular bowl embossed with raised "perles". The handle is formed as a pair of intertwined snakes grasping an apple in their mouths as an allusion to the Garden of Eden. Weighs 80g. Measures 4" length x 3" wide x 1" height. In good vintage condition. Hallmarked with the French Minerve 1st standard mark. In use from 1838, the mark depicts the goddess Minerva with a number 1 beside her to denote a silver content of .950/1000 silver (95% silver and a higher grade of finesse than the standard .925 for sterling). Bearing a maker's mark for 'Maîtres Orfèvres' Maison Eschwège, (successors to Block Eschwège), the mark was registered in 1946 and closed shortly after, they held shop at 42 rue Meslay in Paris.