Antique Belle Epoque French sterling silver wine taster sommelier cup, tastevin. Classic design, the circular bowl embossed with raised "perles", concave "cupules" and elongated godrons to create reflections in the wine to better judge its color and clarity. Rounded thumbpiece, with ring handle allows the tastevin to be worn suspended from a chain. Engraved with interlaced initials HT or HF in heavy cursive. Hallmarked with the French Minerve 1st standard mark, which depicts the goddess Minerva with a number 1 beside her denoting a silver content of .950/1000 (95% silver and higher than the standard .925 for sterling silver). Hallmarked with the boar head for .800/1000 silver on the handle ring. Bearing maker's mark for silversmith Alfred Hector, active 1881-1913, commenced trade at 25 rue Palestro, Paris. Measures 4 1/2" length x 3 3/8" width x 1 1/8" height (to the top of the thumbpiece). Weighs 73.5g. In overall good condition with general wear/ signs of use and age.