Beautiful French Silver and Crystal Table Center Piece by Soufflot

A Beautiful French Silver and Clear Crystal Table Center Piece by Henri Soufflot.
Called in French a Surtout, this beautiful piece consists of a Jardinière and its silver and mirror ‘Dormant’ or plateau.
The ‘Jardinière’, or center table if you would rather, was used in a variety of ways 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 roses and hydrangeas as shown on here!
But you can use it in many other ways: to present fruits of course or sweets, or cookies or simply to decorate with a free-standing candle in the middle of the table
This particular piece, which is quite unique because of its four lobbed or quatrefoil shape, shows a lovely cut out work on the gallery which holds the crystal insert.
Pictured are delicate designs of acanthus leaves, floral scrolls and flowing ribbons. The crystal insert is truly beautiful!
The Dormant shows the same quatrefoil design and silver acanthus feet.
Its center consists of a mirror which reflects the jardinière, while the bottom part of the dormant is made of mahogany wood.
The work is exquisite and the full effect striking. Filled with flowers it is absolutely gorgeous!
The clear insert is in good condition with no chips, and is original to the piece.
The silver gallery is in perfect condition.

The measures given above are that of the complete piece.
The Jardinière itself measures: 12 inches long by 8 inches wide and 4 5/8 inches high with the crystal.

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

The Makers Mark is for ‘Maître Orfèvre’ Henri SOUFFLOT and shows an H and an S topped by a rising sun with a star stamped below the letters.
His Mark was registered in April 1884 and cancelled in 1910.
He held shop at 84 Rue de Turbigo in Paris.

France 19th Century c.H: 7"W: 19"D: 5"Reference number: CC-257