Style - Orfèvrerie et Objets de Vertu
Online Auction: 12–20 November 2020 • 3:00 PM CET • Paris

Style - Orfèvrerie et Objets de Vertu 12–20 November 2020 • 3:00 PM CET • Paris

This November, Sotheby's will present a selection of silver and objects of Vertu in our Style sale. They include an original collection of spittoons, a series of silver and vermeil nefs of different sizes as well as a rare set of Roman micro-mosaic panels of butterflies engraved with a monogram that is probably that of Prince Borghese and his wife Adèle, née de La Rochefoucauld. Finally, several rock crystal and nautilus cups mounted in silver dating from the second half of the 19th century bring a naturalist side to this sale.

Highlights

Sotheby's interviewed Pierre Sauvage, the interior designer and owner of the famous Parisian houseware shop, Casa Lopez. He selected several works that will be presented in our upcoming Style sale to decorate tables and create a pastoral atmosphere and scenography, reflecting the French “art de vivre”.

Casa Lopez's Pierre Sauvage On Style
Read More
A silver-gilt covered ecuelle with stand, Jean-Louis III Imlin, Strasbourg, 1757-1758
In the 18th century, an ecuelle was used to eat broth, the two handles were used to hold it and the cover to keep the broth warm. This silver-gilt example is particularly beautiful with its decoration of garlands of flowers, the handles openworked with foliage, the domed cover with cabbage finial, and the stand with moulded border.

View Lot
An unusual silver and mahogany cocktail table, Robert Linzeler, Paris, 1897-1900
This cocktail table is a unique example of tableware. In a Louis XVI style, it is made of mahogany and has several places carved into the wood to accommodate various silver and glass dishes. This table has been made by the Parisian silversmith Robert Linzeler at the end of the 19th century.

View Lot
A circular gold-mounted composition box, the cover insert with a mother-of-pearl miniature representing most probably the Count de Provence, future King Louis XVIII, Paris, 1788-1789
This object of Vertu features a miniature painted on mother-of-pearl representing most probably the Count of Provence, future King Louis XVIII. It was made shortly before the French Revolution during which the Count of Provence emigrated to the Austrian Netherlands.

View Lot
A silver-gilt and porcelain travel set, London, 1837, and Turin, circa 1830-1840
This important silver-gilt and porcelain travel necessaire was made partly in London and partly in Turin. It was offered, as attested by a manuscript inside the box, by the ladies of France to Princess Clotilde of Savoy, Victor-Emmanuel II’s daughter, who in 1859 married Prince Napoleon Joseph.

View Lot
Magnificent Table Nefs

With the earliest examples dating from the 13th century, the nef is a silver or gold table ornament in the shape of a ship, sometimes decorated with precious stones or enamels. Opening from the bridge, its purpose was to hold the "prince's cutlery" and it followed its owner to each meal. Thus, spices, napkins, cutlery and sometimes "poison-tasters" were found there. The aim was to protect its owner from possible poisoning.

Calendar miniature for January from theTrès Riches Heures du Duc de Berry circa 15th century

The nef was also an opportunity to show, through its extravagance, the rank of its owner and the skill of the silversmiths who created it. Around 1415, Jean Ier Duke de Berry was represented at his table, accompanied by a nef specially carved with his emblems: a bear and a wounded swan. The nef was gradually replaced towards the middle of the 16th century by the "cadinet", a plateau with three locked compartments.

The most precious surviving example, the parcel-gilt silver-mounted “Burghley nef” made in Paris in 1527-1528, has a body made of a nautilus shell. It was discovered in the basement of Burghley House near Stamford in 1956 during an inventory, was auctioned by Christie's in 1959 and was then purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The Burghley Nef © The Victoria & Albert Museum

The second half of the 19th century saw the emergence, particularly in Germany, in the city of Hanau, of the Historismus movement, reflecting a profound influence of the Middle Ages to the end of the 17th century. This led to the re-creation of nefs, corporation cups and ivory silver-mounted tankards.

To enhance this medieval appearance, these pieces were sometimes enamelled or set with cabochons of semi-precious stones. 10 historicist nefs feature in our upcoming Style sale.

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events & news.

Receive the best from Sotheby’s delivered to your inbox.

By subscribing you are agreeing to Sotheby’s Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Sotheby’s emails at any time by clicking the “Manage your Subscriptions” link in any of your emails.

Sell with Sotheby's

Sell with Sotheby's

Curious to know if your item is suitable for one of our upcoming sales?

Provide information and share images to request an online estimate now.

Start Selling
arrow Created with Sketch. Back To Top