Dessert service - .925 silver, gold plating

Important and extremely refined English dessert cutlery service, entirely made in solid sterling silver 925, the work of the prestigious firm Crichton Bros., London – New York – Chicago, circa 1902.

Magnificent original set consisting of 24 pieces:
• 12 dessert knives,
• 12 forks,
kept in its spectacular original presentation case made of noble wood with a purple velvet interior.

The set is distributed across two inner levels:
• 6 knives and 6 forks on the upper part,
• 6 knives and 6 forks on the lower part.

What is most exceptional and rare about this service is that the pieces are made entirely in solid sterling silver 925, including:
• the full blades of the knives,
• the internal structures,
• the mounts,
• the complete forks,
• and all decorative elements.

It is not a service with steel blades or plated metal, but a true luxury set fully executed in high-purity English silver, reserved exclusively for aristocratic clients and very high-society families at the beginning of the 20th century.

The blades retain their elegant original gilt over silver, a technique used in high-end English silverware to protect surfaces during the service of fruit, desserts, and fine pastries.

The handles feature genuine natural Mother-of-Pearl (nacre) worked and set manually through an extremely delicate and costly artisanal process. The quality of the join between silver and nacre demonstrates an exceptional level of silversmithing typical of the great British houses of the Belle Époque.

The set preserves original English hallmarks:
• the lion passant of sterling silver 925,
• the Leopard’s head of London,
• the master’s mark “LAC” corresponding to Lionel Alfred Crichton,
• and the date letter corresponding approximately to the year 1902.

The Crichton Bros. firm was one of the most prestigious silverware houses in the British Empire, specializing in luxury pieces intended for aristocrats, diplomats, and major international collectors. The original case plate indicates its locations in:
London – New York – Chicago.

This type of service was not simple flatware for the table, but true symbols of social prestige used in private receptions, ceremonial dinners, and the residences of English and American high society in the Edwardian period.

Approximate measurements:
• knives: 20.5 × 1.5 × 1.3 cm
• forks: 16.5 × 1.5 × 1.2 cm
• case: 32 × 24.5 × 6.5 cm

Total weight with case: 1918 g
Estimated weight of silver only: 1062 g

Very good condition for its age, preserving strong visual presence, magnificent historical patina, and excellent aesthetic quality.

An extremely elegant, rare piece of great collector value.

The photo is part of the description.