The perfect gift for oyster fans, this collection from Chanteduc, the home of Patricia and Walter Wells in Provence includes:
+ A lovely set of 11 vintage Gien oyster plates - each holds half a dozen oysters with a spot for lemon in the middle.
+ 12 elegant French antique oyster forks bearing the Boulenger maker's mark, presented in their original blue case. Circa 1910-1920.
+ 10 sterling silver forks stamped by the maker on the left side of the neck (perhaps a crown which indicate the Town mark, corresponding to the mark of the Assay Office that has verified the piece) and stamped with a patent date of 1919 on the right-hand side. These have a nice weight and are likely English.
Patricia loves the white color of the plates and remembers buying them in Uzes as already vintage plates. The oyster forks fall into Patricia's "single-use" objects in her French kitchen. She loves oysters and enjoys diving deeper into the world around them, including "la plante huître" - the oyster plant. She shares the story of the summer she discovered it and became obsessed with it. She will pair it when serving oysters on these white plates by placing the leaves of the plant as the velvet cushions for the plump oysters.
Note plates are in lovely overall condition. One has a small glaze fissure. Note this set of oyster forks comes with an extra that was part of Patricia's collection. All are all are in good condition very light superficial scratches consistent with light wear over time.
and Provence, Patricia Wells, 2013.
Condition and wear consistent with age and use.
