Their right hands are held aloft in a "V" salute while their left hands grab each-others wrist forming a circle.
I have placed a ruler and a typical tea sized spoon in the picture to help you visualize size.
There is only one small manufacturer mark (e (clock picture) o) in an oval cartouche
I am pretty sure it is good quality silver, but I do not know its origin
My guess is that it is from the 1890's
These finial figures are very well cast on both the front and back.
I have been told that this is a variation of the Oath of the Horatii
According to legend, these Roman warriors pledged their lives to each other and they were willing to fight to the death for the honor of Rome.
The importance of this legend is that over the years, the concept of responsibility under the law is traced to this oath.
There is also a large painting in the Louvre (Paris) by Jacques-Louis David (1784)
which is considered to be an excellent example of French neo-classical painting
depicting a Roman legend about a dispute between the cities of Rome and Alba Longa.
Three brothers of the Roman Horatii family agreed to end the war with three brothers from the Curiatii family
David's version was his own invention and depicts the father handing swords to his three sons.
In the bowl there is a little repousse/chased hut with a boat on a lake.
I have been told that this represents the hospital of Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa
I have not been able to confirm this opinion at this time
On the nice art nouveau style stem with auricular designs there is a bull depicted
According to legend the bull and its horns are
'a potent symbol of the expression of male fighting spirit and phallic vitality'