LAPPARRA ET GABRIEL, ORFÈVRES (1902 -1923) SILVER CUTLERY SET, 49 PIECES

silversmith hallmark ‘LG with a rat between the letters’ for Henri Lapparra and Georges Gabriel; silver hallmark ‘Minerva facing right’ (on the handles), other illegible hallmarks 49 pieces comprising: - 1 silver ladle: L. 29 cm, weight 236 gr. - 12 small silver knives: L. 20.3cm, total weight – 542 gr. - 12 knives (blades are not in silver, marked ‘Nogent’ and ‘Inoxyd’): L. 25 cm, total weight – 731 gr. - 12 silver forks: L. 21.4 cm, total weight - 986 gr. - 12 silver spoons: L. 21.5 cm, total weight – 990 gr. in original wooden box ‘Bombrun, Carcassonne’ with a monogram Maison Lapparra was founded in 1893 by Antoine Lapparra, a great silversmith who worked for the princely families of Europe and for the great jewellers of Place Vendôme. In 1902, the company became ‘Lapparra et Gabriel, orfèvres’ with a mark ‘LG with a rat. Henri, Antoine’s nephew, succeeded him in 1923 and registered his own mark HL with a rat’ on the same date, which was used until the house was bought by the Souche brothers in 1960.