Paris 1819-1838 – Sugar Tongs In Solid Silver Vermeil By P.-n. Blaquière, Lois XVIII Period

Fine pair of vermeil sugar tongs. The body is decorated with a strong fillet and the tongs are ovoid or olive-shaped. The end bears the monogram PLB finely engraved in English letters.

Marks
•    Vieillard 1^er titre (French mark for solid silver 950/1000 in Paris).
•    Garantie de Paris.
•   Master goldsmith : PNB et trois hirondelles for Pierre-Noël BLAQUIÈRE (registered in 1803).

Dimensions
•   Length: 13.7 cm.
•   Width: 1.9 cm.
•   Spacing: 3.1 cm.

Net weight: 46 grams.


Condition report
Very good condition, a few fine scratches from the passage of time but no wear to the vermeil or dents, deformations or restorations to report.

The superb condition of this sugar tong, whose purity of design is matched only by the quality of its finish, its heavy weight and the superb condition of the original silver plate, make it a fine collector's item as well as an elegant table ornament.
Given the work of Pierre-Noël BLAQUIÈRE, a specialist in furniture for travel set, it is likely that this was a piece that adorned one of the luxury travel sets produced by the silversmith.


PIERRE-NOËL BLAQUIÈRE
Paris, circa 1781 - 5 July 1849

Pierre-Noël BLAQUIÈRE was a goldsmith based at 174 rue Saint-Honoré. Specialising in travel kits and mounted objects, he supplied an exceptional clientele with luxury items. 
From May 1811, BLAQUIÈRE worked for the Manufacture de Sèvres to decorate various porcelain pieces with handles and mounts. He also made the vermeil pieces for the wedding box of the Duke of BERRY and supplied pieces to the goldsmith ODIOT.
Between 1818 and 1822, he was commissioned by the Manufacture de Sèvres for a very special technique involving the setting in porcelain of crystal cameos or cabochons of fine cut stones. This process seems to have been used for the first time on a cup presented by King LOUIS XVIII on the occasion of the birth of Marie-Amélie de BOURBON-SICILES (Hermitage Museum of Saint-Pétersbourg) in 1818. It was at this date that he moved to 123 rue Saint-Honoré, in the Hôtel d'Aligre. 
A service known as "Verre d'eau" is preserved in the Louvre, demonstrating his unique skills as a setter as well as the incredible luxury of his orders. With this service, he created the only known example of the inclusion in crystal of semi-precious stones cut and set in crystal by a gilded silver hoop with graineti, inspired by jewellery.
He made or supplied pieces for many of the sets whose prestige is illustrated by the few pieces that have survived: Hortense de MAIRE's set (Fondation Napoléon), Amy BROWN's set (Musée de la Parfumerie Fragonard, Paris), the Countess BRANICKA's toilet set (Palais Wilanòw, Varsovie), the travel set of Charles STUART, first Baron STUART de ROTHESAY (LEMPERTZ Cologne - The Exceptional Bernard De Leye Collection, 15.07.2021, lot 218 : A silver gilt travel lavabo set made for Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay. Est. 15.000 € - 20.000 €, result: 18.750 €), the travel set of the daughter of the Duke of OTRANTE, and the WURTEMBERG family.


MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

•    MUSÉE DU LOUVRE, Paris - "Service dit verre d’eau", crystal, silver, opals, amethysts and aquamarines by Pierre-Noël BLAQUIÈRE. Paris circa 1820. Inv. OA 11272 to 11276.
•    MUSÉE DU LOUVRE, Paris - "Gourde", gilt silver, red leather and glass by Pierre-Noël BLAQUIÈRE. Paris circa 1819-1837. Provenance: former Louis-Victor PUIFORCAT collection.
•    CHÂTEAU DE CHAMEROLLES, Chilleurs-aux-Bois - "Nécessaire de voyage de dame", maple burl, brass, velvet, leather, silk, vermeil, ebony, mother-of-pearl, crystal, steel, porcelain by BLAQUIERE Pierre-Noël and LEPLAIN Pierre. Paris, first quarter of the 19th century.
•    METROPOLITAN MUSEUM, New York (USA) - "Breakfast Service", porcelain, silver gilt, handles attributed to Pierre-Noël BLAQUIÈRE. Paris, 1813. Presented by Napoleon to the Princesse de Beauharnais on New Year's Day 1814. Inv. 56.29.6.
•    RHODES ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN MUSEUM, Rhodes Island (USA) - "Dressing case", rosewood, copper, gold, leather, silver, crystal, ivory by Pierre-Noël BLAQUIÈRE. Ca. 1806-1810.
•    MUSÉE DES BEAUX-ARTS, Montreal - Travel set, by Pierre-Noël BLAQUIÈRE and François-Claude NOLAU, Paris 1809-1819. Inv. 2016.393.1-42.
•    MUZEUM PALACU KRÓLA JANA III W WILANOWIE, Warsaw (PL) - Toiletry set, Paris 1809-1819. 


EXHIBITIONS

•    "Un âge d’or des arts décoratifs, 1814-1848", Galeries nationales du Grand Palaus, Paris, 10/10-30/12/1991.
•    "Trésors de la Fondation Napoléon – Dans l’intimité de la Cour impériale", Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris, 28/09/2004-03/04/2005.