Rare ornate Belle Epoque / Art Nouveau French sterling silver and cut crystal 3-piece figural butter serving dish. Comprising of an under plate or saucer tray, oval dish and lid cover. Of quality cut crystal heavily decorated in ornate sterling silver mounts. Sumptuous reticulated filigree borders adorn the piece, patterned as laurel leaves and berries. Further accented with minute beaded trim. Topped by a superbly casted figural finial, solid and 3-dimensional with exquisitely fine details and realistic rendering. In the form of a snail on a leaf. In good antique condition, no chips or cracks or damage to the filigree work. All three pieces are thoroughly 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 higher grade than the standard .925 for sterling). Bearing silversmith marks for Antoine Eysen, active 1895 at 3 rue Guichard à Passy, Paris. The dish with the lid on measures 5 1/2" x 3 3/4" x 2 3/4" tall. The under-plate measures 7 3/8" x 6" oval. The entire piece stands 3" total height.