A Royal parcel-gilt silver and ivory tea and coffee service, Jean-Valentin Morel, Paris, circa 1845

Restricted Species

Auction Closed

October 14, 11:42 AM GMT

Estimate

40,000 - 60,000 EUR

Lot Details

Description

From Louis-Philippe, King of the French

A Royal parcel-gilt silver and ivory tea and coffee service, Jean-Valentin Morel, Paris, circa 1845

comprising a coffee pot, a teapot, a covered sugar bowl, a milk jug and a large oval tray with two handles, each piece resting on a pedestal moulded with pearls and a frieze of vine leaves, the body with shells and friezes of applied pearls of roses and other flowers on bouquets of leaves, the tray with strongly moulded edging of foliage, cartouches and shells, handles in bouquet of reeds, the centre engraved with foliage, the bouquet of flowers and the golden quartet panels, each piece except the sugar bowl engraved 'MOREL & CIE ORFEVRES PARIS' the back of the tray engraved 'MOREL & CIE ORFEVRES 39 RUE NVE ST AUGUSTIN PARIS', the lid set with a brass plate engraved Of King Louis-Philippe engraved 'MOREL & CIE ORFEVRES 39 RUE ST AUGUSTIN PARIS', in its mahogany case

width of tray 29 2⁄5 in.; height of coffee pot 11 1⁄2 in.; weight 250 oz.; 74,5 cm; 29,3 cm; 7800 gr.

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Important service à thé et café en argent, ivoire et vermeil par Jean-Valentin Morel, Paris, vers 1845

comprenant cafetière, théière, sucrier couvert, pot à lait et plateau à deux anses, chaque pièce sur un piédouche mouluré de perles, le corps ciselé de coquilles et frises appliquées de fleurs et feuilles, dans son coffret aux armes du Roi Louis-Philippe

width of tray 29 2⁄5 in.; height of coffee pot 11 1⁄2 in.; weight 250 oz.; 74,5 cm; 29,3 cm; 7800 gr.

Veuillez noter que ce lot contient de l’ivoire d’éléphant et que conformément au règlement européen 2021/2280 du 16 décembre 2021, l’exportation de biens contenant cette matière hors de l’UE est interdite. Sotheby’s sera en mesure de délivrer à l’acquéreur le certificat intracommunautaire concernant ce bien.

Please note that this lot contains elephant ivory the export of which outside the EU is now prohibited pursuant to European regulation 2021/2280 of 16 December 2021. Sotheby's will be able to provide the buyer with the intra-community certificate attached to this item

Veuillez noter que pour ce qui concerne le transport hors Union Européennes de lots contenant de l'ivoire d'éléphant, Sotheby's ne pourra pas assister les acheteurs. Un acheteur ne pourra pas différer le paiement du prix de ces lot, ni demander une annulation de leur vente, au motif qu'il serait dans l'impossibilité de les exporter et/ou de les importer. Please note that Sotheby's will not be able to assist buyers with the shipment outside the European Union of any lots containing Elephant Ivory. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or a sale's cancellation.

Sotheby's New York, 8 April 1986, lot 56

Sotheby's New York, 19 October 1994, lot 219

Sotheby's Paris, 29 April 2009, lot 102

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Sotheby's New York, 8 avril 1986, lot 56

Sotheby's New YOrk, 19 octobre 1994, lot 219

Sotheby's Paris, 29 avril 2009, lot 102

For a similar service but without a tray or case, see Sotheby's London, October 31, 2006, nr 533. An identical service was presented at the London World's Fair in 1862; it is illustrated in J.B. Waring, Masterpieces of Industrial Art and Sculpture at the International Exhibition, 1862.

Jean-Valentin Morel was born on April 5, 1794 in Paris. His father was a lapidary and his mother was related to the Mauzié family of goldsmiths. Jean-Valentin did his apprenticeship with Adrien Vachette, a supplier of gold boxes. He became self-employed around 1818 and in 1827 registered his hallmark. The following year, he moved to Château-Thierry where he opened a lapidary and hard stone mosaic workshop. He returned to Paris in 1833 and from 1834 to 1840 became the head of the workshop of Fossin company. In 1842 he joined forces with Henri Duponchel, architect and theater director, and created Morel & Cie, 39 rue Neuve Saint-Augustin. Their production will always be of a great fantasy and quickly met with great success. Soon, the number of employees exceeded 80. The orders flowed in: binding of the missal of Pope Gregory XVI, table service for the king of Sardinia, toilet for William III of the Netherlands, but above all numerous works ordered by one of his main patrons, the Duke de Luynes (see for example the jasper cup mounted in gold and enamel created by JV Morel in 1854, Sotheby's Paris, December 15, 2003, n° 154). In 1846, the two men separated and, after a trial, Morel had to leave France and settled in London. After another dispute, he returned to France in 1852 and opened a studio in Sèvres. The presentation of several pieces at the Universal Exhibition of 1855 earned him a gold medal and a life annuity. He died in Sèvres on March 25, 1860.