French silver Fiddle stem decoration with interlaced banding and knot terminal. In a blue velvet and satin lined storage case Paris 1847-1851, marked P. BERTHIER and "Minerve 1er titre" Dimensions knives: 32,0 cm forks: 29,0 cm Medium 237 g Notes Philippe BERTHIER was a Paris silversmith working between 1841-1851, initially based at 23 rue aux Ours, then at 63 passage Beaufort and finally at 21 rue Quincampoix. His first mark was used between 1841 and 1845, the second from 1847, and the last in 1851. He is one of the greatest silversmiths of the Second Empire who produced in quantity, notably wine tasters, tureens, cups and saucers, beakers and spoons. The company was taken over by Alphonse Debain in 1883