A VICTORIAN SILVER FOUR-PIECE TEA AND COFFEE SERVICE, JEAN-VALENTIN MOREL FOR MOREL & CO., LONDON, 1849 |

comprising: coffee pot, tea pot, sugar/slop bowl and cream jug; in the Ottoman style, all pieces finely chased with foliate panels within arabesque borders, the pots and cream jug with ivory handles, each on a spreading circular foot flat-chased with a band of stylised tulips, post-1893 French import mark

Possibly originally a slightly larger service. Very good clear marks. Heavy gauge. Finely chased. Ivory tea and coffee pot handles a little crazed. Gilded interiors. Very good condition overall.
"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."

Jean-Valentin Morel was a master goldsmith, initially apprenticed to Adrien-Maximilian Vachette in Paris, maker of gold boxes to Louis XVI and Napoleon, but in around 1818 he started working independently. He registered his first mark in August 1827 and went to work with the Fossin brothers in 1834, remaining there until 1840. His stylisticly diverse work here, born from an amalgamation of Renaissance, French and Islamic influences, became synonimous with superb craftmanship and quality. From 1842-48 Morel was in partnership with the French architect Henri Duponchel (1794-1868) establishing themselves as Morel et Cie, where they became known for their renaissance revival objets d' art to the designs of Jules Peyre and Constant Sévin. At one point they employed 80 workers and won a gold medal at the Exposition des Produits de l'industrie of 1844 in Paris. However, their partnership ended acrimoniously in a lawsuit that resulted in Morel being prohibited from working in Paris again.

The revolutions of 1848 caused Morel to flee to London, re-establishing in New Burlington Street with financial backing from collector Edmond Joly de Bammeville. Registering his mark in 1849, he continued to produce the highest quality silver and jewellery, culminating with the award of a Council Medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Morel returned to France a short time later in 1852, financial precarious but equally creative, recovering to win the Grand Medaille for goldwork and jewellery at the Paris International Exhibition in 1855. There he showed his famous bloodstone and enamel cup depicting Perseus and Andromeda, commissioned by Henry Thomas Hope.