Wine/liqueur Decanter Holder — Mons, 1774

Mons — Silversmith: Étienne Delrue (active 1764–1780) Solid silver, cut crystal Weight: 555 g This exceptional wine or liqueur decanter stand, made in 1774 in Mons, then under Austrian rule, is a major example of 18th-century Mosan silversmithing. A ceremonial object intended for serving wine, it displays a complete decoration of viticultural iconography—bunch of grapes, tendrils, and vine leaves—accompanied by symmetrical palmettes that already foreshadow the pre-Neoclassical vocabulary. The original decanters are of absolute rarity. The two cut crystal decanters fit perfectly into the basins and retaining rings. Their bulbous shape, cross-cut design, and spherical stoppers correspond exactly to the small wine, fortified wine, or liqueur decanters of the 1760s–1780s. The presence of their original decanters, adapted from the outset to the mounts, is extremely rare in 18th-century Meuse Valley ensembles. The decoration is explicitly linked to wine. The abundance of wine-related motifs constitutes a veritable iconographic program associated with wine. The harmony between the decanters and their mounts confirms their intended use for fermented beverages. Palmettes and a crowned handle: precursors of Egyptomania. The radiating palmettes and the vertical, crown-shaped handle belong to the decorative repertoire that, in the 1770s, foreshadowed the pre-Egyptianizing trends of the Directory and Empire periods. The crowned hallmark "74". The date hallmark "74" surmounted by a crown is an official hallmark of the Austrian Netherlands, used in Mons around 1750–1780. It attests to the control of the title under the authority of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria (1717-1780): it is not a mark of nobility, but an administrative hallmark guaranteeing its authenticity. Due to its remarkable condition, complete coherence, and the extremely rare presence of its two original decanters, this set stands out as a truly exceptional piece, worthy of a museum collection or a specialist collection. Estimate: €4,200 – €4,500. The model with two decanters framing a vertical handle is found in several 18th-century European tableware sets (Dutch, German, or British cruets held in museums). Our example is distinguished by the unusual richness of its wine-themed decoration and the complete preservation of its cut crystal decanters.