Spectacular and important two-handled silver presentation tray in oval form with foliate scrolls alternating with cut-out leather medallions decorated with Renaissance-style women's heads in high relief on the handles, The interior centred on an oval medallion engraved with a marquis's crown in a cartouche held by two nude female busts holding a garland of flowers and foliate scrolls on a guilloche background of basketwork motifs, the whole surrounded by a frieze engraved with scrolls, palmettes and plumes of stylised leaves, foliate handles with four attachment points. Mercury (1840-1879), Tête de lièvre return 1888. Master-smith: Emile Hugo. Inscribed 10 March 1853. Biffage 2 October 1880. W. without handles: 74 cm - W. with handles: 90 cm - D. 60.5 cm - Weight: 4,636 g ML Reference: Emile Hugo, originally from Etampe, a Parisian silversmith between 1853 and 1880, specialising rather in fashionable shaped pieces and not cutlery, was a notable merchant who was awarded a "first class" medal at the 1867 Universal Exhibition. His successor was Edmond Têtard. Bibliography : David Allan, Le couvert & la coutellerie de table française du XIXe siècle, published by Faton, 2007.