Namur, 1815-1816, Alexandre Joseph Bodart, Incense Ship , Sterling Silver

Extremely rare solid silver incense container  from the hand of the famous Namur master goldsmith Dieudonné known as Alexandre Joseph Bodart (Namur 1756-1816). It is in the Louis XVI style but dates from 1815-1816. It bears the guarantee mark of the Kingdom of the United Netherlands created after the defeat of Napoleon and uniting Holland, Luxembourg and current Belgium. This hallmark was used from 1815 in all the provinces of present-day Belgium and will be replaced at the start of Belgian independence in 1831. With the date of death of the goldsmith (1816), it allows us to date very precisely this piece between 1815 and November 3, 1816. Namur knew several goldsmiths of the name at the end of the eighteenth century. Alexandre Bodart is a special case and must have been a man of character and resistance, because to my knowledge he is the only Belgian goldsmith who survived the 17 years of French revolutionary and imperial occupation without having changed his master goldsmith mark of old regime which also appears on this piece. Even throughout we know from thé archives ThatbNamurois goldsmiths were  being exhorted by the central government to t   with new French régulations .... The object is in perfect condition. The pretty engravings which decorate the lid are still perfectly visible. It weighs approximately 250 grams.