All belonging to a single collector, our 14 antique sterling silver and vermeil demitasse spoons date from the 1880s to the 1920s. They represent the full range of popular styles from that fertile period in the decorative arts: the Aesthetic Movement, Classic Revival, Gothic Revival, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Also evident in the collection are most of the important silversmithing techniques used by designers at the time, such as twisting, enameling, chasing and repoussé to name a few. Each spoon is a small work of art from the sculpting of many of the bowls to the fully realized stems. The custom of ending a meal with a small shot of very hot, black coffee to aid in digestion is thought to have originated in the Middle East as early as the 17th century. But it was the French, so often the arbiters of elegance and good taste, who popularized the habit among polite European society in the early 1800s. The use of a “demi-tasse,” cup, one half the size of a normal coffee cup, with proportionately diminutive spoons, became an essential part of formal dining etiquette and is still popular today. Small sterling spoons of this quality have also become popular baby gifts. Condition: Although the spoons are generally in very good condition, some do show loss to gilding or other wear expected from over a century of frequent, gentle use. Dimensions: Each between 3"- 4".