Odiot "louveciennes" - 12 Silver-gilt Dessert Knives - Coat Of Arms Of Uzes

Magnificent series of 12 dessert or entremets knives by the prestigious goldsmith ODIOT (Paris), emblematic "Louveciennes" model created under Louis XVI in 1781.

The knife handles are engraved with a covenant coat of arms under a comtale crown with the covenant arms of Comte Joseph Philippe Léopold Vogt d'Hunolstein (1830-1903) and his wife Laure de Crussol d'Uzès (1838-1897), married in 1857.

Count Joseph Philippe Léopold Vogt d'Hunolstein (1830-1903), from a noble family of Rhenish origin established in France, married Laure de Crussol d'Uzès (1838-1897) in Paris on May 16, 1857, daughter of Géraud Armand de Crussol, 11th Duke of Uzès, and from one of the oldest ducal families in Languedoc. This matrimonial alliance thus united two aristocratic lineages: the Vogts of Hunolstein, often titled counts or viscounts, and the Crussols of Uzès, dukes and peers of France. Laure, known for her social commitment as president of the Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin free schools, brought her husband links with the Languedoc high nobility, while the couple had several children, including Hélène who later married Arthur de Rochechouart-Mortemart, Duc de Mortemart. Unfortunately, Laure died tragically on May 4, 1897, in a fire at the Bazar de la Charité in Paris. This union is commemorated in particular by their covenant coat of arms in the church of Saint-Pierre in Plouguin (Finistère), where they were major donors to the 19th-century reconstruction of the building, testifying to their influence and generosity in various regions of France.



Materials
Solid forged silver handles, entirely gilt (gold gilding). Steel blades (original) Length: 21 cm


Marks and hallmarks
The blades are signed "ODIOT"in full letters. Minerve hallmark 1st title (.950 silver) on handles.
Various silversmith hallmarks (subcontractors of the Odiot house): on some knives the hallmark of Édouard Corvoisier, on other knives the hallmark of Dominique Laporte. These two silversmiths worked at the same address, 36 rue Montmorency in Paris (circa 1880). Poutraitance was common for Odiot's cutlery production.

Overall condition
Good condition, with micro-scratches from use normal for handled antique pieces (see photos). The vermeil is well preserved. One blade has a snag (see photo)

Gilding note:
Over the entire suite of 12 knives, differences in hue can be observed: 7 knives have a more bright yellow/gold gilding (Dominique Laporte), while 5 knives have a slightly duller gilding (Édouard Corvoisier) This variation is probably due to a difference in gold bath.