- 154
A French silver toilet box and cover, René Delacourt, Paris, 1643
Estimate
5,000 - 8,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed
Description
- Silver
oval, embossed and chased with flowers, scrolling foliage and birds
Provenance
Sotheby's, Monaco, 16 June 1996, lot 177
Literature
Michéle Bimbenet-Privat et al., Les Orfèvres et L'Orfèverie de Paris au XVIIe Siècle, Paris, 2002, vol. I, p. 302
Associated Literature:
Michèle Bimbernet-Privat and Gabriel Fontaines, La Datation de L'orfèvrerie parisienne sous l'ancien regime, Paris, 1995, p. 51
Condition
Normal dents, nicks and wear, marks good and clear
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
in 1626 the goldsmith René Delacourt was sentenced to five years in the Galley fleet, for stealing and forging marks on table silver; a charge which he vehemently denied. Having somehow survived this ordeal he was reinstated as a goldsmith nine years later.
In 1641 a tax was placed on Paris-made silver with the intention of redirecting precious metal away from the luxury trade towards the royal mint. This box, therefore, ought to have had a tax mark in addition to the `maker's mark' and the Jurande date letter. The fact that it does not is explained by the inability of the authorities to impose their will. Enraged goldsmiths attacked and wounded the royal tax collector, Pierre Bourdois in 1642 and threatened to kill him and throw him in the Seine. The impasse with royal authority was eventually resolved when the goldsmiths' community purchased for the sum of 30,000 Livres, the right in 1643 to have the tax lifted.
In 1641 a tax was placed on Paris-made silver with the intention of redirecting precious metal away from the luxury trade towards the royal mint. This box, therefore, ought to have had a tax mark in addition to the `maker's mark' and the Jurande date letter. The fact that it does not is explained by the inability of the authorities to impose their will. Enraged goldsmiths attacked and wounded the royal tax collector, Pierre Bourdois in 1642 and threatened to kill him and throw him in the Seine. The impasse with royal authority was eventually resolved when the goldsmiths' community purchased for the sum of 30,000 Livres, the right in 1643 to have the tax lifted.