Antique Belle Epoque era French sterling silver 24 piece fish service. The flatware set comprises of 12 forks and 12 knives. Of superb quality and sturdy craftsmanship, each piece with a good weight in hand. Stunning pierce-work and exquisite engraving adorns the blades and tines of the forks, decorated with carnation or peony flowers and scrolling leaves. The handles are richly decorated with Art Nouveau foliage and flower-buds, with sinuous curling leaves and stems. The floral motif is reiterated on the service ends the of knives and forks. Monogrammed with interlaced initials EL in elegant script. In overall good condition. The forks measures 7", Knives measure 8 1/2" . Total silver weight is 1,203.5 grams. The set is complete and housed in two separate presentation boxes in sets of 6, the boxes showing wear commensurate with age.
Hallmarked with the French Minerve or Minerva mark, the number denotes 1st quality with a content of .950 silver (for 95% pure and higher than the .925 standard for sterling silver). Bearing maker's marks for Parisian silversmith Eugene Doutre-Roussel who was active from 1911-1913 and operated a workshop at 118 rue Vieille-du-Temple, Paris. (He was the successor and son of the first Eugene Doutre-Roussel who commenced trade from 1849-1911.)
The company of Doutre-Roussel were specialists in the manufacturing of small and large silver. Founded in 1849 by silversmith Eugene Doutre-Roussel (senior), producing silverware upon commission. The workshop changing locations in Paris, first established at 6 rue Saint-Avoye, then at 4 and finally at 10 rue de Braque in Paris. His son and successor, also Eugene Doutre-Roussel, opened shop in 1864, under his father's maker's mark before succeeding him in 1911 with his own maker's mark and moving locations to 118 rue Vieille-du-Temple. Over the years, the Doutre-Roussel firm used a number of different but similar marks, keeping the domino as their symbol, and passed down. Significantly, the family Doutre-Roussels were active in the manufacture of both small and large silverware from 1848 to 1969!