Stunning antique Art Nouveau French sterling silver large chocolate or tea / coffee cup and saucer set by Eugene Lefebvre. Crafted from the highest quality French sterling silver. Decorated with finely detailed repousse work. The pattern comprises of embossed Art Nouveau flowers, poppies perhaps, on long sinuous stems and stylized foliage. Embellished with gilt vermeil accents to the flower centers and hints of vermeil to the leaves. The handle is a lovely confection, of sinuous lines topped by a beautifully casted blossom flower accented with vermeil center. Gilt vermeil finished bowl. In good condition with general wear, no dings or dents. A gorgeous cup and saucer, nice large size and sturdy with good weight in hand. Hallmarked with the French Minerve 1st standard mark, which guaranteed the finest quality French sterling silver of .950/1000 purity in use from 1838 (95% pure silver and a higher grade than the standard .925 for sterling). Bearing silversmith's marks for Eugène Lefebvre, active 1896-1910 at 14 bis rue des Minimes, Paris. Cup measures 5" width x 2 5/8" height. Saucer is 6 1/2" diameter. Total silver weight is 333.7 grams.