Beautiful Antique French Silver Jardinière By Puiforcat~Sold~

A Beautiful Antique French Silver Jardinière by Emile PUIFORCAT.
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.

But you can also use it in many other ways: to present fruits of course, or sweets, cookies, or simply to decorate with a free standing candle in the middle of the table.

This particular piece shows a lovely cut out work on the gallery which holds the shiny copper insert.
A beautiful laurel leaves garland weaves around the centre gallery which is decorated with flutings.
The upper gallery shows another laurel leaves garland circled by a ribbon.
The Jardinière is square with curving angles and stands on 4 silver legs
The work is lovely and the shape rather unique.
The copper insert is also quite rare and original to the piece.
The silver gallery is in perfect condition without any losses or dents to it! A perfect way to enhance your dinner table.

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

The Makers Mark is for Emile PUIFORCAT, and was registered in 1857; it features an E and a P separated by a standing feather.
The mark is still so famous it does deserve a bit more explanations:
Emile PUIFORCAT inherited the business from his uncle Jean Baptiste FUCHS who specialized in flatware in the early 1800s. Emile Puiforcat moved from the offices of his uncle right next door at number 18, then 16 of Rue Chapon. While he died in 1883, his mark was kept by his successor as well as his grandson Jean, who passed away in 1945.
Until the 1880 the House of Puiforcat remained in the flatware business, but expended into the larger pieces to include presentations plates and platters.
Though very praised for its craftsmanship PUIFORCAT never participated in the Fairs that did so much for the Silver business in the 1800. The house continued on through the years and was finally bought by Hermes in 1993.

H: 3.7"W: 8"D: 3.5"Reference number: SH-173