Elegant French Silver Empire Salt Cellars By Defontaine~Sold~

An Elegant Antique French Silver Salt Cellars’s pair, in the distinctive Empire Style ‘Vasque’ or Basin Form, minted between Napoleon’s Reign and the first ‘Restauration’ period or between 1809 and 1819.

The two cellars stand on a very pure Pedestal or Piédouche decorated with leaves and ending in a wreath of laurel leaves.
The round part of the pedestal rests on a square silver base lined with silver pearls.

The upper part of the ‘Vasque’ is lined with gadroons on the underside, which show through the crystal insert on the upper side.
The ‘Vasque’ border is lined with a delicate wreath of laurel leaves.
The Vasque’s are flanked by two handles in the shape of a swan’s neck and head linked to the body of the Vasque by a Celtic Torque design.

The pieces are in very good condition with no apparent losses or repairs.
The insert are original to the piece and made of white crystal, perfectly fitting in the ‘Vasques’.
The two elegant pieces are quite heavy and very pure!

The Hallmark is Poinçon au 2ieme Coq 1 -1st title -1809 -1819 –Paris

The Makers Mark shows a P and a D in a lozenge form topped by a Boar’s head with a Dot underneath the two letters.
The Mark stands for Pierre DEFONTAINE who registered it the first in 1798 and then a second time on September 19th 1807 until 1813.
His workshops were first located 2 Rue des Trois Canettes, then 31 Rue des Marmousets in Paris.

H: 2"W: 2603.9"D: 0.6"Reference number: SH-128