Beschreibung:

Second quarter 20th century, the ''Francis I'' pieces with ''Reed & Barton'' or Eagle-''R''-Lion mark for Reed & Barton (Taunton, MA), the ''Quirinale'' pieces marked ''ACC'' and with ''1 AL'' within a lozenge for A. Cesa S. C. (Alessandria, Italy), many further marked for retailer ''Fornari-Roma'', each marked ''Sterling'' or ''925'', an assembled service, the ''Francis I'' comprising: 4 heavy dinner forks (7.75'') (3 monogrammed ''B''), 16 salad forks (7.125'') (4 monogrammed ''B'', 1 monogrammed ''EPM''), 7 luncheon forks (7.125''), 19 oyster forks (5.625'') (2 monogrammed ''B'', 1 monogrammed ''P'', 3 monogrammed ''EPM''), 9 round bowl (cream) soup spoons (5.875'') (1 monogrammed ''B''), 1 oval bowl soup / dessert spoons (7.25''), 26 teaspoons (5.875'') (6 monogrammed ''B''), 12 steel-bladed hollow handle dinner knives with curved blades (9.75''), 3 steel-bladed hollow handle steak knives (8.875''), 16 steel-bladed hollow handle luncheon knives (4 measure 9.125''; 12 with replaced blades measuring 8.875'') (2 monogrammed ''P''), 13 ''New French'' steel-bladed hollow handle knives (9.125'') (3 monogrammed ''B''), 12 steel-bladed hollow handle butter spreaders (6.25''), 15 flat handle butter spreaders (5.875'') (6 monogrammed ''B''), and 1 small sugar tongs (4.25''); the ''Quirinale'' comprising: 8 heavy dinner forks (8.125''), 7 small forks (6.75''), 9 fish forks (7''), 9 oval bowl soup / dessert spoons (7''), 12 steel-bladed hollow handle dinner knives with straight blades (10.25''), 12 fish knives (8.5''), and 6 steel-bladed hollow handle luncheon knives (8.625''), some monogrammed, 217 pieces, together with two associated canteens, weighable sterling 222.11 oz troy approximately, : $5000/7000
Note: The ''Quirinale'' pattern by Italian maker A. Cesa S. C. is virtually indistinguishable from the American Reed & Barton ''Francis I'' pattern, aside from differences in piece size and minor decorative detail. Provenance: Private Collection, La Jolla, CA. Condition: Weight does not include steel-bladed articles. Some monogrammed, as stated. Overall good condition, with general marks, scratches, rubbed wear and tarnishing commensurate with age and use. Many of the ''Quirinale'' dinner knives with rust to blades. A few of the ''Francis I'' ''New French'' knives with minor rust to blades. The ''Francis I'' dinner knives and 12 of the luncheon knives with replaced blades. A few pieces with minor bending to fork tines, knife blades, etc.