Lot 85
  • 85

A French parcel-gilt silver vase, cover and stand, Jacques-Frédéric Kirstein, Strasbourg, circa 1815

Estimate
70,000 - 100,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Silver
  • 35cm., 13 3/4in. high
beaker-shaped body with detachable sleeve, finely cast and chased in high relief with a lion hunt, a lion and lioness defend their cubs from mounted Roman horsemen and foot soldiers, stippled Kirstein Orfe a Strasbourg, square base on winged lion supports similarly chased with a griffin eagle overcoming a snake, vases of flowers and scrolling foliage on matting, base signed Composé et execute par Kirstein Orfre à Strasbourg, detachable cover with pierced grapevine sleeve

Exhibited

Hans Haug, Le Siècle d'or de l'orfèvrerie de Strasbourg, Chez Jacques Kugel, Paris, 10-31 October, 1964, no. 160

Condition

One possible small loss to applied pierced section to cover. Casting and chasing to battle scene appears very good with no obvious losses. Signed to the battle scene and also to the foot rim of the cup. Good clear marks to cover, body, and foot. Gilding of good colour and in good condition. Overall condition and gauge very good.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

A very similar vase is in the Musée Des Arts Decoratifs, Strasbourg (ref. MAD 5502). A gift in 1897 from Mgr. Paul Muller-Simonis, who inherited a fortune from both his parents, it is described as `témoigne de l'extraordinaire talent de modeleur de Kirstein et de sa maîtrise de la technique de la fonte à la cire perdue'1(testimony to the extraordinary talent of Kirstein as a sculptor and his complete mastery of lost wax casting).

Jacques-Frédérick (1765-1838, also known as Joachim Frédérick) Kirstein, thought to have studied under Robert-Joseph Auguste in Paris,2 came from the third generation of a family of leading Strasbourg goldsmiths. As 'artiste célèbre pour ses vases, tableaux et dessus de tabatières ciselès en haut et en bas relief,’ he became renowned for his skill in highly detailed chased and cast vases and plaquettes in gold and silver, winning gold medals at the Exhibitions of 1810 and 1834 (ex. catalogue, Alte und Neue Strassburger Goldschmidtarbeiten und uhren, Strasburg-Els, 7-11 August, 1915, p. 60). As his reputation travelled abroad, Kirstein’s 'pictures’ in precious metal, often of hunting scenes, a love of which he inherited from his forester grandfather, were added to boxes made up by goldsmiths in other countries.

Another example of a lion hunt by Kirstein, 'one of the treasures which go to make up the Queen’s collection’…`a sumptuous relic of the Regency of George IV,' set under a piece of rock crystal, was mounted by the London goldsmith John Northam, 1813-14 (Charles Truman, Eighteenth Century Gold Boxes of Europe, Woodbridge Suffolk, 1990, p. 288 and 394 and 441).

1`témoigne de l'extraordinaire talent de modeleur de Kirstein et de sa maîtrise de la technique de la fonte à la cire perdue', from Deux Siècles d’Orfèvrerie a Strasbourg, XVIIIe-XIX Siècles dans les collections du musée des Arts Décoratifs, Strasbourg, 2004, p. 72.


2 Hans Haug, Inventaire des collections publiques françaises L’orfèvrerie de Strasbourg dans les collections publiques Françaises, Palais du Louvre 1978, p. 157