Early 19th-century French hors d’oeuvre (appetizer) serving set, made of solid silver and bearing the Minerva head 1st standard (950/1000 fineness) French state hallmark. All components of the set are fully hallmarked. The pieces were produced by Étienne-Auguste Courtois, Parisian silversmith, as confirmed by the clearly identifiable lozenge-shaped maker’s mark with the initials “A C” and the distinctive emblem of “two men in a boat” above. Courtois’s mark was officially registered between 1834 and 1847, with the workshop located at 62 rue du Temple, Paris, one of the principal centres of Parisian silver production at the time. The form and decoration are characteristic of the July Monarchy (Louis-Philippe period): well-balanced, functional shapes combined with finely pierced vegetal ornamentation and a restrained, elegant aesthetic. This approach is typical of early French table silver of the period. Details: Material: solid silver (Minerva I – 950/1000) Maker: Étienne-Auguste Courtois, Paris Date: 1834–1847 Total weight: 89 grams Length: approx. 18 cm Condition: good antique condition with age-consistent patina and light signs of use Due to the relatively short documented working period of the maker, objects by Courtois are less frequently encountered than later 19th-century Parisian silver. This set is therefore of both historical and collector’s interest as an example of early French silversmithing.