Amazing Silver Perfume Burner By Haek & Hourdequin~Sold~

An Amazing and Rare Antique French Silver Perfume or Incense Burner, in the Louis XVI Style ‘Athenian’ Standing Basin form, by ‘Maitres Orfèvres’ Charles HAEK and Achille HOURDEQUIN.

This absolutely gorgeous piece is so rare; we have only come upon it once before….
This one is a pure marvel!!

Standing on a triangular pedestal, it rests on a Tripod ending with gorgeous Lion’s paws.
The tripod is tied to the basin by beautifully rendered ‘Pan’s heads’ (The Sheperd’s God) which top each leg.
The basin itself is sculpted with delicate leaves and a laurel and ribbon wreath.

The lid…is perfection! Topped by a sculpted figure representing Marie Antoinette, it is decorated by silver pearls and acanthus leaves. It has a beautiful pierced open worked garland circling it, allowing the perfume or incense to sift through..

Inside the basin you can find a delicate cut-out platform of silver which is used to set upon the incense or perfume…
Halfway through the delicate tripod, a platform houses a gorgeous feminine figure in 18th century dress (again in the Style of Marie Antoinette), worked in a ‘Ronde Bosse’ or free standing style.
The whole piece is just exquisite and in perfect shape, with no losses, no damages, just pure and beautiful.
It is truly a museum piece…

The Hallmark is Minerva 1-1st title (950/1000) -1838 -1919 –Paris

The Makers Mark shows two H separated by two crossed axes topped by a star.
The mark stands for Charles HAEK and Achilles HOURDEQUIN who specialized in Artistic Silver pieces, and registered their mark on March 3rd 1880.
They won several gold medals for their refined creations, in 1893, and 1894, in Paris, then in 1897 in Brussels.
They were located 42 Rue de Turbigo in Paris.

H: 7.1"W: 3.1"Reference number: CC-119