Ornate Louis XV Style French Sterling Silver Handle, Gilt Bronze Spoon Tea Strainer

French Louis XV Style Sterling Silver Handle, Gilt Bronze Spoon Tea Strainer An exquisitely ornate French antique tea strainer, embodying the quintessential Neo-Rococo style of Louis XV. The handle is crafted from 950 sterling silver, featuring a slender profile adorned with delicate scrollwork, shell motifs, and foliate reliefs. The three-dimensional, fluid carving showcases the refined craftsmanship of late 19th-century French haute argent workshops. The spoon face is made of gilt bronze, designed with a Rococo shell swirl radiating outward. The edge forms a scallop-like wave, with perforations arranged rhythmically along the swirl, blending functionality and artistry. The entire spoon face is treated with traditional vermeil (fire gilding), applied uniformly and deeply into the perforations, exhibiting a warm luster. This was a common finishing technique for high-end tea wares of the era. On the handle, the French sterling silver Minerva 1st Standard hallmark is visible, indicating 950/1000 fineness, the highest standard for French everyday silver. Era: Circa 1895–1905 (Belle Époque) Dimensions: • Length: Approximately 19.6 cm • Spoon Face Diameter: Approximately 5.9 cm • Spoon Face Depth: Approximately 1.8 cm Condition: Overall good condition and functional for use. However, as an antique silver piece over a century old, it bears natural signs of historical use. Please consider this before purchasing.