Hippolyte Thomas - Cutlery set for 12 (73) - .950 silver

Ultra-Rare French 950 Solid Silver 73-Piece Flatware Service (4.94 kg Net / 9.5 kg Gross)

Directly From the Private Collection of Painter Yvonne Récamier


The Highlight of This Auction

An exceptional, highly exclusive, and culturally significant late 19th to early 20th-century French solid silver flatware masterpiece. This magnificent heirloom ensemble consists of 73 pieces forged entirely from premium 950/1000 solid silver (French 1st Standard / Minerve 1er titre).
The entire service is housed inside its rare, heavy, original period wooden chest with magnificent brass side handles and luxurious crimson velvet inserts, bringing the total gross weight to a substantial 9.5 kg.

Prestigious Historical & Artistic Lineage

What elevates this collection from investment-grade silver to a true museum-worthy artifact is its elite provenance. Every individual piece is elegantly hand-monogrammed with the personal initials of Madame Yvonne Récamier (1888–1949).
• Who was she? A celebrated French watercolor master and prominent figure of the Société des Aquarellistes Lyonnais, whose moody, poetic light studies of the Bugey region are historically cataloged in French art history.

Master Silversmithing & Hallmarks

• The Purity: Guaranteed by the octagonal Minerve 1er Titre punch stamped onto every piece, verifying the prestigious 950/1000 purity standard (purer and more exclusive than standard .925 sterling silver).
• The Master Orfèvre: Features the exclusive diamond-shaped master goldsmith hallmark enclosing the initials "HT" accompanied by a five-pointed star symbol. This represents an elite, highly regulated workshop of the period.
The timeless filet (fiddle-and-thread) design emphasizes the absolute purity, high weight, and magnificent mirror-shine of the solid silver.

Detailed Composition & Weight Breakdown


Quantity Item Type Silver Weight
24 Grand Table Forks 2,110 grams
24 Grand Tablespoons 2,010 grams
24 Dessert / Entremet Spoons 581 grams
1 Grand Ceremonial Soup Ladle 240 grams
73 Pcs Total Silver Mass 4,941 grams (~4.94 kg)

• Gross Weight (Silverware + Period Wooden Presentation Box): Approx. 9.5 kg

Condition Report

Superb antique condition. The silver boasts a magnificent mirror luster with minimal micro-scratches and light surface patination consistent with its prestigious age and historical use. The solid wooden chest features authentic exterior signs of time which only enhance its vintage character, while the crimson velvet interior remains sound, safe, and beautifully intact.