Kaiser Ferdinand I of Austria

(1793-1875) Personal cutlery set from the Vienna Court Silver, silver, 158 pieces, comprising: 50 soup spoons, 50 meat forks, 50 meat knives, 4 large serving spoons, 2 salad serving spoons, 2 salad serving forks, each with overlaid imperial double eagle in a cartouche and engraved with the monogram "FI" and the date "1852", length of forks 22 cm, silver weight 11056 g, knives with silver handles, master’s mark M & K = Stephan Mayerhofer und Klinkosch, old Viennese hallmark 1852, in original wooden case, (Lu)

After his abdication in 1848 Kaiser Ferdinand I lived in great prosperity at the Prague Hradcany until 1875. In 1852 the Kaiser commissioned a new set of cutlery according to a pattern used for the Viennese court silver for his personal use and for his court. The cutlery was produced by the Vienna Court gold and silversmiths, Stephan Mayerhofer and Klinkosch. Provenance: House of Hapsburg.

Znalec: Dr. Georg Ludwigstorff