Paris 1776, Solid Silver Beaker By Charles-joseph Fontaine, Louis XVI Period, 18th Century.

Tulip beaker in solid silver with engraved decoration of filets, comprising two cartridges with wreaths of flowers: one comprising a shield on a cut-out leather background, framed with laurel, the other a medallion engraved with a monogram inscribed in foliage. It rests on a gadrooned pedestal.

Hallmarks

Charge: A crowned for Paris 1774-1780;

Maison commune: N crowned for 1776;

Décharge;

Master silversmith: CJF, a butterfly for Charles-Joseph Fontaine, received as master in Paris in 1769.

Weight: 124 gr.

Condition report: Very good condition, an old restoration at the pedestal.


CHARLES-JOSEPH FONTAINE

Born in Douai around 1745, Charles-Joseph FONTAINE was a pupil of great goldsmiths including Henri-Nicolas COUSINET^[1] and Jean-François BALZAC^[2].
A BALZAC timpani was in the DAVID WEILL COLLECTION, several of his silver tulip timpani are kept at the PETIT PALAIS, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris.

^{[1] French goldsmith received master in Paris in 1724. In 1729 he executed the gilded silver pieces making up Queen Marie Leszczyńska's kit, now kept in the Louvre Museum.
[2] Jean-François Balzac (1711- circa 1766) was a prominent Parisian goldsmith working for the French Royal Court. Examples of Balzac's work are housed in some of the world's greatest museums, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.}