Empire Silver Teapot By Jean-baptiste-claude Odiot

Paris, 1809–1819

Superb French Empire silver teapot, crafted in solid silver of the first standard (950‰) and assayed by the Paris Guarantee Office between 1809 and 1819.

This refined piece is the work of Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot (1763–1850), one of the most celebrated Parisian silversmiths of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, renowned as official supplier to the Imperial household of Napoleon I and later to the leading European courts during the Restoration.

The teapot displays the pure, architectural lines characteristic of the Empire style, combined with exceptional technical execution. It is fitted with a finely carved ebony handle and a sculptural zoomorphic spout, demonstrating Odiot’s mastery in balancing elegance with sculptural presence.

The body is engraved with armorial bearings surmounted by a crown, accompanied by a repeated “GJ” cipher, indicating a special commission for a family of noble or equivalent social rank, in keeping with elite Parisian commissions of the early Empire period. These arms are traditionally attributed to the Jehannot d’Huriel de Bartillat family, an attribution consistent with both the quality of the silver and the stylistic context of the period.

After the fall of the Empire, Odiot continued to serve the most prestigious European patrons, establishing a legacy that endures as a benchmark of French goldsmithing excellence. This teapot is a fine and authentic example of that tradition.

Details

• Silver standard: 950‰ (first title)

• Weight: 370 g

• Assay marks: Paris guarantee mark (1809–1819)

• Maker: Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot

• Period: French Empire

• Decoration: Armorial engraving with crowned shield and “GJ” cipher

• Condition: Excellent, with only minimal signs of age-appropriate use