XVIIICENTURY
SILVER Spain&France
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SILVEREPERGNE
18thcentury.Spain
Handmadesilverepergneby therenownedBarcelona silversmith AntonioSerra: an18th-centurymasterpiece
Thisimpressivecenterpiecefeatureselegantbranchesholding delicatebaskets,perfectforpresentingexquisitedelicaciesand fruitsatgrandbanquets.
Atitspinnacle,thereisacentralbowlsurroundedbytwotiers, adornedwitheightbasketsthatappeartofloatlikedelicateclouds. Thelowerbasket,withanornateormolugoldinterior,exudesa specialelegance.
Thepiecehassixfacet-cutcrystalcupsheldbyfinelycarvedfemale torsosinsilver,celebratingthehumanform.Foursmallgravyboats crownedingoldaddopulencetothework,evokingtheextravagant banquetsoftheera.
Ateachcorner,detachablecandelabras,inharmonywiththe overalldesign,offerilluminationwitheightlights.Onthebase,on bothsides,twonoblecoatsofarmsenclosethehistoryand heritage,displayingtheillustriousoriginofthepiece.
Decorativefeet,inspiredbynature,elevatethisepergne.The dimensionsofthisextraordinaryworktestifytoitsgrandeur:62 centimeterswide,52centimeterslong,and45centimetershigh, withanapproximateweightof9kg.
Everydetailofthisepergneisatestamenttothetechnicalvirtuosity ofitscreator,fromdelicatechisellingtometiculousproportions.
AntonioSerra(1698-1770),celebratedforhiscreationsinreligious andcivilsilversmithing,seamlesslyfusedtheeleganceoftheFrench Rococostylewiththeesteemedtraditionof18th-centuryCatalan silversmithing.
Thisepergneistheepitomeof18th-centurySpanishsilver craftsmanship,auniquemasterpiecedestinedtogracethemost distinguishedtables.
SimilarEpergnes.Comparison
EnglishGeorgianSilver
US$135,000
Dimensions:
Height:39.37cm(15.5in)Width:55.25cm(21.75 in)Depth:55.25cm(21.75in)
Period:1770-1779
EnglishGeorgianNeoclassical
US$44,000
Dimensions:
Height:46.99cm(18.5in)Width:58.42cm(23 in)Depth:58.42cm(23in)
Period:1770-1779
NeoclassicalGeorgeIII
US$38,288.58
Dimensions:
Height:45cm(17.72in)Width:66cm(25.99 in)Depth:48cm(18.9in)
Period:1790-1799
SUGARCASTER
18thcentury.France
Theseuniquemasterpiecesbelongedtoanoblefamilywithdeep tiestotheroyalcourtofFrance.Theirvaluehasbeenaffirmedin prestigiousauctionhouseslikeChristie'sandSotheby's,wherea singlepiecewithsimilarfeatureshadastartingpricecloseto 30,000euros.However,herewepresentapair,twoidenticalgems, anunparalleledrarity.
Eachsugarcasterstandsasapillarofrefinement,withitsadorned pedestalandmeticulouslyembossededges.Theircentralbodies, luxuriouscanvases,blendsinuoussmoothnessatthebasewiththe subtlehammeredtextureoftheupperdome.Everycentimeterpays homagetotheskillandvisionoftheircreator.
Thelid,amasterpieceofpiercedlace,embracesthecircumference, revealingsymmetricfour-petaledflowersandpointsthatmimic thesparkleofdiamonds.Atitszenith,afour-petaledflowerrises withelegance,atestamenttotheingenuityandattentiontodetail thatNavierinfusedintoeverycornerofthesepieces.
Duoofsilversugarcasters,two magnificentcreationsbytheillustrious silversmith Jean-BaptisteNavier,bearing witnesstothreecenturies ofagoldeneraof opulencesilver
Beneath,inside,threesilenthallmarkstestifytotheirauthenticity andorigin.TheNaviersealpaystributetotheprodigioushandthat craftedthem,whilethePerpignanmarkdisclosestheirbirthplace. ThecrownedletterGcertifiesthefinenessofthesilverandthedate oftheircreation(1723-1724).Theirdimensions,24centimetersin heightby9centimetersinwidth,andtheirweightof547grams, bearwitnesstotheirmagnificence.
Eachofthesecastersembodiesatreasureof18th-century craftsmanshipandreflectstheexceptionallegacyofJean-Baptiste Navier,aFrenchsilversmithhailingfromAuteuil,whosetalent knowsnoequal.Possessingoneofhiscreationsisakintobecoming thecustodianofafragmentofhisgeniusandforgingaconnection withapastenrichedbyeleganceandvirtuosity.
Today,thesecovetedandcherishedpiecesremainhighlysoughtafterandvaluableintheworldofantiquecollecting.Theseworks, withthreecenturiesofhistoryandtheendorsementofprestigious auctions,notonlyrepresentaninvestmentinheritagebutalsoa securebetforfutureappreciation.
SimilarSugarCasters.Comparison
SaupoudroirenargentparJacquesFilassier, Paris,1719
Estimate:EUR20,000–EUR30,000
Pricerealised:EUR27,600
Dimensions:
Height:24,5cm.(95/8in.)542gr.(19.10oz.)
Source: christies.com
SaupoudroirenargentparJacquesFilassier, Paris,1719-1720
Estimate:EUR20,000-EUR30,000
Dimensions:
Height:24,5cm.(9,5in.)557gr.(17oz.)
Source: sothebys.com
18thcentury.Spain
SILVERTRAY
18thCenturysilvertray: 2.6kgofa centennialmasterpiece thatdazzles
An18th-centurysilvertray,designedbytheskilledmaster silversmithanddiamondcutterfromAragon,FélixSamperFuentes (1810-1877).Withanimposingweightanddimensionsof62cmin widthand37cminlength,everycentimeteroftheborderofthis rectangulartrayisadornedwithdelicatefloralandleafornaments, sculptedwithacraftsmanshipthatreflectsFélixSamperFuentes' artisanalskill.
Thetray'shandles,alsodecoratedwithbranchesandacentral shell,addatouchofelegancetothepiece.Everydetailofthepiece showcasesthededicationandtalentofthesilversmith,whosename resonateswithdistinctionforhavingservedastheQueenIsabelII's DiamondCutter.
CertifiedbythreehallmarksthatattesttoFélixSamperFuentes' authorshipandthequalityofthesilverusedinitscreation,this2.6 kgtrayradiatesmagnificenceinanysetting.
Atimelessgemthatevokestherefinementandvirtuosityofthe18th century,invitingustosavoramomentofthattimelesssplendor.A traythatdazzlesandconquers,worthyofgracingthemost distinguishedcollections.
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