ANTIQUE 19thC FRENCH SOLID SILVER-GILT TEA SERVICE, CARDEILHAC, PARIS c.1870
19th Century Exceptional French Louis XVI style silver-gilt tea service on tray, comprising of a teapot, covered sugar bowl, cream jug, twelve tea cups and a tea stariner, all richly gilt throughout. Tea set standing on cast scroll feet decorated with laurel leaves and overlapping coins, the body partly fluted, decorated with rosettes and draperies, set with carved grotesque handles, the edges applied with silver pearl boarders, the oval tray applied with satyr headswith and coiled snake handles. Tea cup holders come with later fitted Maissen porcelain cups.
Hallmarked French Minerva (950 silver standard), Paris, Maker E.C (Maison Cardeilhac, active 1804-1951, 24 place Vendome, Paris), stamped Cardeilhac Paris and serial numbers.
Reference Number: A5540
DESCRIPTION
Antique 19th Century Exceptional French Louis XVI style solid silver-gilt tea service on tray, comprising of a teapot, covered sugar bowl, cream jug, twelve tea cups and a tea stariner, all richly gilt throughout. Tea set standing on cast scroll feet decorated with laurel leaves and overlapping coins, the body partly fluted, decorated with rosettes and draperies, set with carved grotesque handles, the edges applied with silver pearl boarders, the oval tray applied with satyr headswith and coiled snake handles. Tea cup holders come with later fitted Maissen porcelain cups. Each part is Hallmarked French Minerva (950 silver standard), Paris, Maker E.C (Maison Cardeilhac, active 1804-1951, 24 place Vendome, Paris), stamped Cardeilhac Paris and serial numbers.
The company was founded in 1804 by Antoine-Vital Cardeilhac, who specialised in silver tableware and cutlery in a fine Rococo style. Soon, the firm gained notoriety participating to the International Fairs and winning a bronze medal in 1823 and the silver one in 1827 and 1834. Antoine-Vital’s son, Armand-Eduard took over the company in 1851 and carried on the style and tradition of the firm, renowned for its finely chased pieces and casts ornated with naturalistic elements, scrolls and leaves. Under his leadership the company won a silver prize at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867, a gold medal in 1878 and Armand-Eduard was appointed Maitre Orfevre by Napoleon III.
Armand-Eduard retired in 1885, succeeded by his grandson Ernest, who broke with the family traditional style introducing new Art Nouveau designs into the business production often employing drawings by the designer Lucien Bonvallet. Again the firm was prized in 1889 at the Exposition Universelle. In 1951 Christofle buys the company after over a century of prosperity. Cardeilhac fine artworks can be seen in some of the most important French museums, such as Musée d’Orsay and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris.
CONDITION
In Excellent Condition - No Damage.
SIZE
TEAPOT
Height: 27cm
Width: 25 x 15cm
Weight: 1065g
SUGAR BOWL
Height: 19cm
Width: 16 x 14cm
Weight: 740g
CREAM JUG
Height: 14.5cm
Width: 14 x 9cm
Weight: 440g
TRAY
Height: 8cm
Width: 94 x 62cm
Weight: 7670g
CUP & SAUCER
Height: 8cm
Width: 14cm
Weight: 285g