Edwardian Cased Sterling Silver and Close Plate Dessert Set

hallmarked London, 1908-1909, by Asprey & Co., including six forks and six knives, each with a sterling silver shell-end "pistol" handle and close plate fittings, the forks with three tines, the knives with curved blades, presented in a fitted, brown textured paper covered case with cream satin- and velvet-lined interior, the interior lid gilt-stamped "Asprey / 166 Bond St. / London".
forks l. 5-1/2"; knives l. 6-3/8"; case 1-1/2" x 11-3/8" x 7-1/2"

**Some bumps and scuffs on the filled handles, but no splits and no significant damage noted. The close plate blades/tines show some wear to the steel on the sharp edges, and one knife has a tiny spot of blistering on the spine. All have extruded somewhat from the handle, from about 1.5 to 5.5 mm, but all are secure and functional. One knife blade has probably been re-seated. Each fully hallmarked on the handle. The case is in poor condition, with the hinge completely detached and one edge of the lid detached but clinging to the covering. Losses and abrasions to the exterior and considerable peeling to the paper covering. The interior with some soiling and spotting, particularly at the points of extrusion of the pitch filling, but generally intact.