Nantes 1739, Basting Spoon 43 Cm, Jean-baptiste Giraudeau, Maillard De Belestre Bois St. Lys

This is without a doubt the largest pot spoon I have ever offered for sale. It measures no less than 43 centimeters and weighs an impressive 300 grams. These four hallmarks are very clearly legible, charge (crowned dolphin) and discharge (sheep's head) and crowned letter T for the year 1739. Fourth hallmark is that of Jean-Baptiste Giraudeau, born in Poitiers in 1693, he was an apprentice goldsmith in Poitiers and various other provincial towns before settling in Guérande and obtaining his mastery there in 1715. Widowed twice, he married three times in 5 years. Once in Guérande and twice in Croisic. In 1729 he obtained the translation of Guerande to Nantes. Of his many children, three sons are known as apprentices to their father but only his daughter Marguerite will actually be a master goldsmith in her capacity as widow of Etienne Mercier. Etienne is 14 years his senior, and began his apprenticeship with Jean-Baptiste Giraudeau when Marguerite was two years old....The handle of the spoon is engraved with very pretty, well-preserved coats of arms. They are to be described as "gules with three gold mallets". He is probably a member of the Maillard family, lords of Belestre (near Lamballe) and Bois Saint-Lys (near Nantes).