Set Of Six Silver Cutlery By Bazille In Montpellier, 1774

-  Forged and chiseled silver
-  By Paul-David Bazille, master goldsmith from 1766 to 1793
-  Montpellier, 1774-1775
-  Weight: 1120g (186g on average for a cutlery)
- Very good condition, repolished spatulas, very beautiful hallmarks (well marked)

-  Set of heavy cutlery with double teardrop thread, cited by 18th century goldsmiths as a so-called “English” model. This model, characteristic of the beautiful table production of the goldsmiths of Montpellier, is also found in Bordeaux and Strasbourg.
They are characterized by a greater weight than the plain-dish and threaded cutlery produced by the goldsmith. From this model are known from the same goldsmith a pair of stew spoons dated 1771-1772 ([2] p.57 n°33) and a cutlery from 1772 kept at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris ([2] p.59 n°36, Inv.53669). From the goldsmith Etienne I Belleville, we know a stew spoon from 1761-1762 ([2] n°51 p.69)

-  Hallmarks (on the stem): Master goldsmith: P between two remedy points, DB, surmounted by a three-pointed crown for Paul-Davis Bazille, master goldsmith in Montpellier from 1766 to 1793 ([2] p. 53 & [4] t.III); warden's mark: Z crowned between two points on the letters MPL, Montpellier, 1774-1775 ([4]); charge: an ermine under a crown, Montpellier, 1768-1775 ([3] n°579b & [4]); discharge: two crossed laurel branches, Montpellier, 1775-1781 ([3] n°580c & [4])
-  Ref. : [1] Deguara, Laurent : « Travail d’orfèvrerie », Musée languedocien, exposition du 21 octobre 2011 au 30 juin 2012, Montpellier, 2011 ; [2] Deguara, Laurent : « Orfèvrerie de Montpellier et du Languedoc, Généralité de Montpellier, XVIIe & XVIIIe siècle », Exposition au Musée Languedocien du 20 juin au 19 octobre 1996, Société Archéologique de Montpellier, 1996 ; [3] Helft, Jacques : « Poinçons des Provinces Françaises », Ed. F. de Nobele, Paris, 1968 ; [4] Thuile, Jean : « Histoire de l’orfèvrerie du Languedoc, Généralités de Montpellier et de Toulouse », Ed. F. de Nobele, Paris, 1964