An 18th century French metalwares vermeil 4-piece travelling cutlery set

An 18th century French metalwares vermeil 4-piece travelling cutlery set, marks rather indistinct, but probably Paris circa 1785, comprising a dessert fork and spoon with reed and shell decoration and two knives, one with silver blade, the other with steel blade and each with mother of pearl handles, all presented in a hinged and fitted case, interior marked ODIOT A PARIS, outer monogrammed CDF for Claude Dufour, Montcherand Vaud, Switzerland The House of Odiot was founded in 1690 by Jean-Baptiste Gaspard Odiot, a fine silversmith during the reign of Louis XV. However, it was with his grandson, Jean Baptiste Claude Odiot (born in 1763) that the firm reached its peak of notoriety, receiving exceptional commissions from Napoleon’s court and the most important royal families of the world. Odiot succeeded Henry Auguste as Napoleon’s official silversmith and made both the sceptre and the sword for his coronation in 1804, together with a travelling service for the Emperor’s campaigns.