Rare Louis XVI French Silver Confiturier by René P Ferrier

Rare Louis XVI French Silver Confiturier by René-Pierre Ferrier

Though the name indicates a connotation of Jam, it is but a magnificent Sugar bowl with its individual spoons around it.
As usual with Pre Revolutionary French Silver The Marks are what is truly special and a lesson in history.
The fact that this charming piece is also intact, is incredible!

In this lovely piece the baluster-shaped body and its silver spoons from the Louis XVI period, stand on a wide base bordered with a silver cordeliere.
The body house the cobalt blue blown glass interior while the upper and lower part have a silver border cut out to receive the spoons.
The décor on the body is simply geometric and lovely.

The Particularity of these pieces, is that the Maître Orfèvre who did the main object, did not create the spoons…The spoons were always ordered from a ‘Cuilleriste’ (Or Spoon Maker) who specialized in them.
The twelve spoons share the same Poincon Aux Fermiers Généraux (Pre Revolutionnary marks)
But the spoon maker’s Mark is too stretched to be read correctly.

The Hallmark is Poinçon Aux Fermiers Généraux :
Photo # 6 we have the Crowned P for Paris – July 1787, under Fermier Général (Tax collector if you will..) Henri Clavel.
Hence 2 years and two month before the French Revolution ended the Silver Trade and Registration for a few years.
To give a little background the French Revolution officially starts on May 5th, 1789 but does not bring down the Trades and their Laws before the end of 1789.
We also see the Crowned A or Charge Mark used by Henri Clavel starting August 31st 1782.

Photo # 7:
We also have the Discharge mark of an Eagle’s head which puts the end of the work before February 22nd, 1789.

Photo # 8:
The Makers Mark is that of René-Pierre Ferrier
It shows his initials surrounding a Rooster and a Crowned Fleur de Lys.
Ferrier registered his mark on September 13th 1775 and worked until the Terror seems to have caught up to him.

France 18th Century c.H: 10.03"W: 6.10"D: 3.34"Reference number: D-171