Antique French sterling silver drageoir centerpiece bowl, a drageoir (a box for sweets) or confiturier (jam container). Richly decorated throughout in Louis XVI style motifs with great workmanship. The lid features a detailed solid casted figure of a bird with outstretched wings is serving as the finial, perched above a base of intricate stylized foliage below. Monogrammed with engraved interlaced initials JH or HJ. The main body is embossed and reticulated with openwork tracery and floral vignettes, encircling a clear glass bowl insert. The glass bowl is of a good size and offers a versatile range of uses, making this piece ideal for serving sugar or tasty sweets at the table, or perhaps to serve as a condiment bowl or even to showcase flowers or mixed berries. Flanked by swooping handles crafted of alternating C-scrolls. Below the bowl is a lobed design which offers some interesting play of light reflecting on the glass. Terminating to a pedestal base composed of gadroon and fluting centered by a ring of overhanging leaves. Resting on a base of four elaborate feet. 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 indicate a silver content of .950/1000 silver (95% silver and a higher grade of finesse than the standard .925 for sterling). Bearing makers mark for silversmith Jean Baptiste HARLEUX, active from 1834 to 1891 at 15 rue du Grand Hurleur in Paris. In overall good antique condition with general wear commensurate with use and age. DIMENSIONS: Stands 9" total height. Measures 8 3/4" wide across the handles, with a 6 1/4" diameter opening. The glass bowl measures 5 3/4" diameter x 2 1/8" height. The silver weight is 624 grams (without the glass bowl).