Ath 1788, Louis XVI Sauceboat, Solid Silver, Master Of The Unicorn

Sumptuous Louis XVI period sauce boat in solid silver with the hallmarks of the city of Ath in Belgian Hainaut. The master goldsmith's hallmark is the one with the unicorn's head, active in Ath from 1769 to 1790. Like many Ath goldsmiths, he remains unidentified to this day because of the destruction of the corporation archives and the indictment plates in the revolutionary turmoil of the late eighteenth century. The date letter hallmark is also found on the handle of the sauce boat and indicates the year 1788 as the year of manufacture. The production of Ath goldsmiths is quite uneven in quality and aesthetics. But some Ath goldsmiths are renowned for the high quality of their art. The master with the unicorn is one of these great craftsmen. The sauce boat is exceptionally heavy for its size and of exquisite quality of execution. The decorations are all applied in cast and finely chiseled silver. The medallions with the heads of the Roman emperor and empress are typical for Athois pieces from the Louis XVI era. Several Belgian museums exhibit pieces of goldwork by this master with the unicorn. The sauce boat weighs 305 grams.