Refined Antique French Silver Table Center Piece By BoinTaburet

A very Refined Antique French Silver Table Center Piece by BOINTABURET.

Called in French a ‘Surtout’, this gorgeous piece consists of a Jardinière and its matching ‘Dormant’ or plateau.
The ‘Jardinière’, or center table if you would rather, 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.
It is at the time of the Sun King in the famous work the Mercury that the term Surtout is defined on the occasion of the reception given by the Duke of Orleans for the English ambassador in his residence of Saint-Cloud.
The Surtout is originally a piece of silverware that gathers in the center of the table salt shakers, spice boxes and candleholders. The reason of its appearance obeys a practical reason: the French service and its abundance of dishes and service.
Among the rotation of dishes, only the spices remain. From there was born the idea of creating a fixed space that would become a wonderful pretext for the wildest decorative extravagances for the goldsmiths of the eighteenth century and 19th Century.
Under the Empire, the pleasure of taste was reinforced by the wonder of the eyes and the glitter of the top of the candlesticks, which reflected in the mirror topped Surtout.
A luxury item, it remained one of the loveliest table additions.
This Elegant duo piece shows a very important oval silver centerpiece decorated with openwork floral interlacing and dotted with rosettes. A design Bointaburet would use in many of its luxurious items.
The insert is made of gilded brass.
The centerpiece is flanked by four pilasters that end in foliage and crossed ribbon decorated feet.
The Dormant shows the same crossed ribbon design.

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 stunning as you can see from the photos…
The silver gallery is in perfect condition.
The height and measures given above are that of the complete piece.

The Jardinière itself measures: 14.50 inches long by 9.05 inches wide and 4.50 inches high with the insert.
The silver weight given is only that of the Jardinière piece. The surtout silver has not been weighed as it is attached to the mahogany dormant and the mirror insert.

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

The Makers Mark is for ‘Maîtres Orfèvres’ BOIN-TABURET .
Boin-Taburet was created by the joining in 1860 of two ‘Maître Orfèvre’: Emile TABURET and his son in law, Georges BOIN who prior to this had already attained quite a fame as a Antique Dealer. The House of Boin Taburet acquired a large following and specialized in ‘Pieces De Table” or larger decorating pieces for the table.
They took part with much success in the 1889 ‘Exposition Universelle’ in Paris.
Our piece is signed and numbered and dates back to Circa 1880.

France 19th Century c.H: 7.1"W: 22"D: 4.35"Reference number: CC-240