Silver And Crystal Oil Cruet, Old Man Hallmark, Restoration Period

The oil cruet, made of a solid silver frame and cut crystal drinking cups, has been one of the emblematic pieces of an elegant table since the 18th century. The Restoration will honor this art of living by creating silverware pieces of rare delicacy. This one bears all the fashionable decorative elements, claw feet and chimeras inherited from the empire, but the young shepherd, his crook and his dog is a less warlike motif. The frame is in solid silver, and bears on each removable part the hallmarks in force between 1818 and 1838, including a title hallmark (the old man second title, province) and a large guarantee hallmark (bearded in an oval accompanied by the department, here 60). The base bears the master's hallmark, and all the parts also bear a very small, very dirty hallmark. It is certainly a Beauvais manufacture, which has been a major center of luxury craftsmanship since the Middle Ages. One will appreciate the elegance of the marriage of the lines of the crystal handle of the bottles with the profile of the lyre of the silver handle support. Everything is in perfect original condition. Weight of the frame; 542 grams