An ornate boxed set of silver cutlery for the serving of desserts or petits fours, comprising a three-pronged fork and a flat-edged spoon. Highly decorative, they date from the late 19th to early 20th century, and are crafted in the Louis XVI style, with an intricate decoration of foliage and flowers on both their heads and handles. The set is stamped with the Minerva 950 hallmark, meaning they are 95% silver. Well documented for its anti-microbial properties, sterling silver was often used for food service items by people of means, both in their kitchens and for personal use when they travelled. The duo is presented in its original red and gold case, which is stamped with the maker’s mark of the jeweller ‘Gimilini’, of 11 Rue Crébillon, in Nantes.