This complete silver cutlery service for 12 by Ricci Argentiere, produced in Alessandria in the mid-twentieth century, is a significant example of Italian table silver intended for elegant and formal dining. The Ricci workshop, active within the renowned silversmithing district of Alessandria, belongs to a manufacturing tradition celebrated for its quality craftsmanship, durable materials, and attention to functionality.
The service includes an extensive assortment of pieces, comprising dinner and dessert forks, knives, spoons, teaspoons, a ladle, and serving utensils. Its completeness makes it particularly suited to a fully appointed table, reflecting a dining culture still closely linked to coordinated service and refined presentation.
From a stylistic perspective, the cutlery is characterised by clean, balanced lines and handles defined by a simple profile, free from excessive ornamentation. It is precisely this understated design that gives the service its versatility, allowing it to complement both traditional and contemporary settings. The polished silver surface enhances the purity of the forms while emphasising the quality of the craftsmanship.
Furthermore, the hallmarks 800 – graphic symbol – 20AL identify the service as Italian silver production and confirm its silver standard. Overall, this Ricci Argentiere service is a table ensemble of considerable interest, combining functionality, completeness, and material value while preserving the enduring appeal of twentieth-century Italian silver.
Description: Comprising: ladle – gr. 295, L cm 33.5; two silver serving pieces – total weight gr. 276, L cm 25.5; two serving pieces with silver handles – total weight gr. 130, L cm 23.5; 24 dinner forks – total weight gr. 1,769, L cm 20; 24 dessert forks – total weight gr. 1,212, L cm 18; 12 dinner knives – total weight gr. 1,182, L cm 24.5; 12 small knives – total weight gr. 818, L cm 21; 12 tablespoons – total weight gr. 899, L cm 20; 24 teaspoons – total weight gr. 609, L cm 13; bearing the hallmarks 800 – graphic symbol – 20AL, total weight gr. 5,770. (Items not entirely in silver calculated at one-third of their weight.)
Hammer Price: € 3.250,00
Auction 77 – December 10th 2024 – A mansion in Mantua
