"Dish, Sterling Silver By Jean-antoine Bourguet, Paris, 1760-1761"
Hammered and melted silver
Paris, 1760-1761
Jean-Antoine Bourget, received master silversmith in 1758 to 1785 (recorded)
Good condition, trace of a letters
Dim: 24.8 cm side; 3 cm high; weight: 584g
Square silver dish, with a polylobed outline with eight ribs and molded thread edges.
Often grouped in pairs, these bowls, shallow, square or rectangular, were intended, according to inventories, for serving fruit (compote or dry) and salads. The interior traces of blades show that they were not used only for this purpose, but according to the circumstances of the meal. These bowls are classic elements of the great service, known as "service à la française", which knew how to impose themselves on aristocratic and middle class tables. A similar dish of this silversmith is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of New York (Inv. 48.187.190) from the Wentworth collection.
Hallmarks (under the molding): Charge; Crowned, for Paris, 1756-1762 [1, n ° 427]; Warden's mark: V crowned, for Paris, from July 12, 1760 to July 15, 1761, Master silversmith: I, a dove, A, B surmounted by a crown, for Jean-Antoine Bourguet; on the molding: discharge: a peasant's head for large silver works, Paris, 1752-1762; Master silversmith: I, a dove, A, B surmounted by a crown, for Jean-Antoine Bourguet
Jean-Antoine Bourguet: brother of Simon Bourguet, was received master silversmith by Letters Patent from the king Louis XV on October 14, 1758, and deposits his mark on October 16 with the guarantee of his brother Simon, after the realization of his masterpiece, a mustard pot. He lived in Lamoignon street, then rue de l'Arbre Sec at the “Tabatière d'Or” according to the almanac described as specialist of dishes. It is referenced until 1785. The various pieces listed concern dishes (Metropolitan Museum, Tajan sale April 2005 n ° 137, Qilzilbash sale, Christies of December 19, 2007, n ° 514…)
Ref. : [1] Bimbenet-Privat & de Fontaines: "La datation de l'orfèvrerie parisienne de l'ancien régime", Paris Musées, 1995; [2] Kugel: "La collection Jourdan-Barry", Kugel Ed. 2005. [3] Nocq, Henri: "Le Poinçon de Paris, répertoire des maitres-orfèvres de Paris du Moyen-âge au XVIIIe siècle”, 1926