Alfénide cutting service consisting of a fork and a knife L27

Carving service consisting of a three-pronged fork and a knife, intended for cutting meats and poultry at the table. The handles are made of silver-plated metal, with a faceted section, slightly flared towards the end and finished at the blade side with a moulded ring. The fork features a baluster neck, a base of prongs adorned with a small relief decoration, and three long, slender prongs. The knife is equipped with a stainless steel blade with a straight back and rounded tip, marked "ALFÉNIDE PARIS INOX". A simple, almost architectural design fits well on a raw wooden board or alongside a ceramic dish, suitable for both a family table and a more contemporary setting. The fork measures 24 cm in length and the knife 27 cm. Good used condition: tarnished silver with grey reflections, fine scratches and signs of wear on the handles, slight oxidation around the rings, fine polishing scratches on the blade. Likely French manufacture from the mid-20th century: the stainless steel blade and the design of the handles suggest the years 1940 to 1960, though this is not certain. Alfénide originally referred to the alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel developed by the Halphen company around 1850 as the basis for silver plating; the name later became a brand associated with Christofle for part of its production.