Pewter Wine Pitcher - Paris, 18th Century

Free shipping within mainland France via La Poste or Mondial Relay.

**************

Large pewter wine pitcher with a shouldered shape, sloping plinth foot, straight bowl, and S-shaped thumb rest with a molded crest and sloping tongue.
Stamped interior mark, initials SM, according to the SAINT MAUR standard:
1° - minimum fill at the base of the bowl: 1.39 liters
2° - fill level: 1.53 liters.
Gauge mark with the arms of the Condé family, owners of the office.
Height: 28 cm.
PARIS, Mid-18th century.

In perfect condition and of fine quality, from the "Pinte" of Saint-Maur, bearing a rare gauge mark with the arms of the Princes of Condé.
Between 1589 and 1823, these arms were those of the Dukes of Bourbon, which became vacant when Henry IV became King of France. The Princes of Condé then adopted them, simplifying the band into a baton. These arms are "azure, three fleurs-de-lis or, and a baton sinister gules."

A bit of history:
It's worth noting that these pitchers were the official wine measures of the Ancien Régime. The capacity of those used in inns, drinking establishments, etc., was supposed to be periodically checked by the royal or ecclesiastical authorities to ensure the consumer received "correct measure," but in reality, this regulation was rarely enforced, and pitchers bearing gauging marks are quite rare. The metric system appeared at the very beginning of the 19th century and took several decades to become established due to the resistance to change shown by users, but little by little these uniform cylindrical measures ended up replacing the jugs which, it is true, presented a variety of interesting shapes characteristic of their place of manufacture, but also an infinite number of different gaugings from one city to another and often even from one village to another, however close they may be. This significantly complicated trade.
However, there was one rule common to the entire territory: the POT gauge determined the gauges of the sub-measures, the latter successively having a gauge half that of the previous one.

*******************
Visit my website:  http://www.commenchal-expert-etains.com

*******************

GUARANTEE

Former professor at IDETH (Institute of Technical and Historical Studies of the Art Object)
Former professor at the EAC (School of Art and Communication)
Former member of the UFE (French Union of Experts)
Expert specialist in pewter for more 40 years I guarantee the object is authentic described above.
A detailed descriptive invoice accompanied by a photograph will be given to the purchaser on request.

PAYMENT

- By French check payable to COMMENCHAL Jean-Claude
- By bank transfer payable to COMMENCHAL Jean-Claude
IBAN: FR76 3002 7160 2700 0206 4620 173
BIC: CMCIFRPP

SHIPPING

Shipment to France by “Colissimo” or « Mondial Relay » tracked within a maximum of 48 hours. With recommendation and insurance on request. Postal transport is offered to metropolitan France.
Sending to the whole world in "Colissimo" recommended. With insurance on request. To know the shipping costs to Europe or the whole World, click on "Buy online" and select your country, or contact me by email.

ASK A QUESTION

French-speaking buyers: by phone or email.
Non-French-speaking buyers: exclusively by email.

****************