Antique French Silver and Crystal Jardinière By Martel~Sold~

A Stunning Antique French Silver and Crystal Jardinière by Maitre Orfèvre Joseph Alexandre MARTEL.

The ‘Jardinière’ or Flower Centre table if you would, was used in a variety of ways in order to embellish the table, by either setting flowers or fruits or other items that could enhance the set up.
I use mine during dinners with either peonies or wilder plants and the effect is incredible!
You can judge by the presentation photos!

But you can use it in many other ways: to present fruits of course or sweets, to present caviar, or simply to decorate with a free standing candle in the middle of the table – The candles will bring out the designs on the crystal to an amazing effect!

This beautiful piece shows a lovely cut out work on the gallery which holds the translucent Crystal Insert. Laurel branches, floral scrolls and ribbons grace the gallery with their repetition, while the main body rests on acanthus leaves sculpted feet.
The Crystal insert is beautiful as well with an intaglio décor of laurel leaves.
The silver interior is 18 carat gold coated.

The work is exquisite and extremely refined, just gorgeous really!

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

The Makers Mark is for ‘Maître Orfèvre’ Joseph Alexandre MARTEL and shows a J and an M separated by two hammers topped by a star.
The mark was registered on July 29th 1888, and was cancelled on August 30th 1914.
His workshops were located 41 rue Beaubourg in Paris.

H: 3.54"W: 70812.2"Reference number: SH-210