Charming Selfish Silver Coffee Pot By Page Freres

A Beautiful French Antique Silver ‘Selfish’ Coffee Pot in the very refined ‘Directory Style’ by ‘Maître Orfèvre’ PAGE Frères
Later continued by the Empire Style, the Directory Style started right after the revolution, after years of struggles and loss of workmanship.
The designs were rather simple and elegant, with pure details and heralded the use of Antique symbols brought back by the French expedition in Egypt and heavily used in the Empire Style.

This lovely French Antique Silver Coffee Pot is called ‘Egoïste’ or Selfish in French as it holds roughly 2 Espressos or 1 larger coffee but no more! Hence the connotation of Selfish!

The design is extremely pure with the geometric ebony handle fitting perfectly and giving a very clean line, while inked to the pot by a delicately silver peony.
The Spout is lovely, showcasing a ‘zoomorphic’ design representing a horse’s head. The bottom part of the spout is worked with a palm leaf design.
The Finial, or ‘Frétel’, is in the form of a nut, while the edges of the lid are carved with a of laurel leaves.
The upper body of the coffee pot showcases another wreath of laurel leaves.

The coffee pot rests on three feet extending in delicately carved lion’s paws.
The feet connect with the body of the pot with a lovely Palmetto design.

The piece is in perfect condition, elegant and delicate, with no dents or losses.

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

The Makers Mark is for PAGE Frères and shows a P separated by a Gaiter topped by a star, from the letters Fres.
Their mark was registered in 1901 and cancelled in 1905. They were succeeded by Charles BARRIER.
Their shop was located 7 Rue Reaumur in Paris.

H: 7.3"W: L4.7"D: 5.1"Reference number: SH-141