Direct from Paris: A superb 5-piece, 19th century, Louis XVI 950 sterling silver tea set by two of the world's top French silversmiths - the "House of Puiforcat", currently owned by Hermes and "Tetard Freres", in excellent condition - circa 1890s. The annals of French decorative arts during the 19th century reveal Puiforcat as one of the most distinguished silver houses, renowned for creating tea services that epitomized the perfect marriage of technical precision and aesthetic refinement. Established in Paris in 1820 by Jean-Baptiste Fuchs, who later adopted the Puiforcat name from his mother's family, the firm rose to prominence through its exceptional 950 sterling silver tea sets that graced aristocratic households across Europe. These exquisite ensembles, comprising teapots, sugar bowls, creamers, and often accompanying trays, represented not merely functional tableware but tangible manifestations of France's cultural supremacy in the luxury arts. This magnificent 5 piece sterling silver tea set is a stunning example of Puiforcat's unparalleled craftsmanship in tea service production, the royal patronage that elevated its status, the prestigious awards recognizing its excellence, its significant associations with Hermès and Tetard, and the defining characteristics that established these pieces as benchmarks of luxury tableware.
Focus on Quality: The foundation of Puiforcat's supremacy in tea service production lies in its uncompromising approach to materials and technique. The firm's insistence on using 950 sterling silver, containing 95% pure silver rather than the standard 925 alloy, resulted in pieces with exceptional luminosity and resonance that became hallmarks of Puiforcat production. This superior silver content presented particular advantages for tea service components, allowing for thinner walls in pots and bowls while maintaining structural integrity, and producing a warmer, more mellow tone when struck - a quality particularly appreciated in the handling of silver tea utensils. Master craftsmen employed traditional techniques including hand-raising, planishing, and chasing to transform sheets of this precious metal into flawless forms, with a single teapot often requiring more than 100 hours of skilled labor to complete. The process began with the careful formation of the body, hammered into shape from a single sheet of silver to ensure perfect symmetry, followed by the meticulous attachment of spouts and handles that were cast separately for optimal strength and proportion.
Puiforcat's tea services demonstrate both remarkable fidelity to classical design principles and subtle innovations that reflected evolving social customs. The basic forms remained true to French aesthetic traditions - oval or circular bodies with elegant proportions, delicately fluted surfaces, and restrained ornamentation. However, Puiforcat introduced technical refinements that enhanced functionality without compromising visual purity. The firm developed specialized pouring spouts that created a smooth, drip-free flow - a critical feature for the precise tea ceremonies of aristocratic households. Lid mechanisms were engineered to fit with exacting precision, often incorporating discreet springs or counterweights to ensure secure closure while allowing easy one-handed operation. The interiors of teapots and sugar bowls were typically gilded using a mercury process that created a durable gold surface, preventing chemical reactions between silver and acidic tea compounds while adding a luxurious visual contrast when the pieces were in use.
Serving European Royalty: Royal and aristocratic patronage played a crucial role in establishing Puiforcat's reputation as a premier silversmith of tea services. King Louis-Philippe commissioned several important sets from Puiforcat, including a magnificent service for the Tuileries Palace that featured discreet fleur-de-lys motifs incorporated into its decoration. The Orléans family became devoted patrons, as did numerous members of the Russian aristocracy who maintained residences in Paris. Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia acquired an elaborate tea service that included not only the standard components but also a matching samovar and tea caddy set. These royal commissions served as powerful endorsements, attracting wealthy clients from across Europe and America who sought to emulate aristocratic taste. The firm's guest books from the 1860s reveal visits from Rothschild bankers, Vanderbilt heirs, and other scions of international finance, all drawn to Puiforcat's reputation for creating the finest tea services in Paris.
Awards & Accolades: International exhibitions provided Puiforcat with prestigious platforms to showcase its tea services. The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London featured a complete tea set that demonstrated the firm's mastery of proportion and surface treatment, winning praise for the perfection of its forms and the elegance of its silhouettes. The Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867 included a revolutionary tea service with heat-retaining properties - special double-walled construction in the teapot and insulated handles that kept tea at optimal temperature without external warmers. These innovations earned Puiforcat a gold medal and cemented its reputation as both guardian of tradition and pioneer of technical advancement. The firm's exhibition successes translated into commercial triumph, with waiting lists for commissioned tea services often stretching several years as discerning clients sought to acquire Puiforcat's creations.
Association with Hermès: The association between Puiforcat and the luxury house Hermès, which began in the early 20th century and culminated in Hermès acquiring the brand in 1993, represents a significant chapter in the firm's history of tea service production. This partnership brought Puiforcat's silversmithing tradition under the umbrella of one of France's most prestigious luxury brands while maintaining its distinctive aesthetic. Hermès respected Puiforcat's heritage while introducing subtle refinements - improving weight distribution in teapot handles, refining pouring angles, and developing new polishing techniques that enhanced the silver's natural luster. The collaboration resulted in limited edition tea services that combined Puiforcat's historical designs with Hermès' legendary attention to functional detail.
Collaboration with Tetard: Equally important was Puiforcat's relationship with Tetard, another esteemed French silver house. The firms occasionally collaborated on special commissions, particularly for Russian aristocratic clients who appreciated Tetard's technical innovations combined with Puiforcat's classical designs. The 1885 "Romanov" tea service, created for Tsar Alexander III's summer palace, featured Puiforcat's elegant forms enhanced with Tetard's patented hinge mechanisms and innovative insulation techniques. These collaborations demonstrated how French silver houses could combine their strengths to create extraordinary pieces that pushed the boundaries of both design and functionality.
Puiforcat’s Sterling Tea Sets: The construction of Puiforcat's tea services reveals remarkable technical sophistication beneath their elegant surfaces. Teapot bodies were formed using a combination of raising and spinning techniques to achieve perfect wall thickness - substantial enough to convey quality but thin enough to remain lightweight in use. Spouts were carefully engineered with internal baffles to control flow rate and prevent dripping, while handles were weighted to counterbalance full pots. Sugar bowls and creamers featured precision-fitted lids that created airtight seals to preserve contents, with discreet thumb rests for easy opening. The most elaborate services included matching trays with raised borders that prevented sliding of pieces, their surfaces often decorated with engraved motifs that complemented the service's overall design theme.
Puiforcat's mastery of surface decoration set its tea services apart from competitors. The firm's craftsmen employed subtle textural variations to create visual interest - alternating between matte and polished finishes to catch the light differently as pieces were handled during tea service. Gilding was applied with precision to highlight delicate beading or classical motifs. Finials, often shaped as urns or floral bouquets, were executed with botanical accuracy that reflected Puiforcat's commitment to perfection in even the smallest details. This careful balance of ornament and restraint resulted in services that commanded attention through refinement rather than ostentation.
Set Specifications: This amazing set is a stunning example of the luxury and quality exemplified by the Puiforcat (Hermes) brand - check the price of a comparable set at your local Puiforcat boutique. The magnificent teapot measures roughly 15 cm. high to the top of the lid, approximately 24 cm. across from the tip of the spout to the end of the handle and weights 736 grams. It is stamped with the French Government's Head of the Minerva 1 Hallmark (certifying a minimum of 950 silver) as well as the "Puiforcat" sterling silver manufacturer's hallmark and "Puiforcat Paris" on the underside. The amazing Coffee Pot measures roughly 18 cm. high to the top of the lid, approximately 17.50 cm. across from the tip of the spout to the end of the handle, and weights a massive 615 grams. It is also stamped with the French Government's Head of the Minerva 1 Hallmark as well as the "Puiforcat" sterling silver manufacturer's hallmark and "Puiforcat Paris" on the Underside.
The elegant sugar bowl measures roughly 11 cm. high to the top of the lid, approximately 12.50 cm. across to the tips of the handles and weights 405 grams. It is also stamped with the French Government's Head of the Minerva 1 Hallmark as well as the "Puiforcat" sterling silver manufacturer's hallmark and "Puiforcat Paris" on the Underside. The dainty cream pitcher measures approximately 9.50 cm. high, roughly 10.50 cm. across from the tip of the spout to the end of the handle and weights 169 grams. It is also stamped with the French Government's Head of the Minerva 1 Hallmark as well as the "Puiforcat" sterling silver manufacturer's hallmark and "Puiforcat Paris" on the Underside. The massive serving tray measures approximately 60.50 cm. in length to the tips of it's handles, roughly 36.50 cm. across at its widest point and weights and astounding 1,850 grams +/-. It is also stamped with the French Government's Head of the Minerva 1 Hallmark as well as the "Tetard Freres" sterling silver manufacturer's hallmark.
