Paris, 1766–1767, Solid Silver, Egoïst Coffee Pot Or Louis XV Cream Pitcher

Solid silver tripod coffee or chocolate pot with side handle — Paris, 1766–1767

A solid silver pitcher from the Louis XV period, resting on three arched legs ending in clogs. Its curved body features broad twisted ribs that give the silhouette a swirling motion. The legs are connected to the body by molded attachments with scalloped contours.

The domed lid echoes the twisted ribs of the body, arranged in a spiral around a molded knob. A dynamic border, accented with amati-style backgrounds, runs along its perimeter. It is hinged and features a coiled thumb rest. The spout, short and projecting, is adorned with moldings.

The side handle, made of dark wood and turned and scalloped, fits into a molded silver socket. It is screw-on, allowing it to be detached from the body of the pitcher.

Measuring 11 cm in height and weighing 170 g, this pitcher has a compact size reminiscent of creamers and certain lidded mustard pots on pedestals from the same period. It stands out here for its elegant tripod base and the continuous flow of its twisted ribs, characteristic of Louis XV silverwork.

The body bears an owner’s mark consisting of the intertwined capital letters D and M, engraved within a cartouche with undulating contours surmounted by a crown.

The hallmarks stamped on the base indicate that it was made in Paris in 1766–1767: the crowned C, a guild mark from this period, is accompanied by the crowned A with a sprig, a Parisian maker’s mark in use from 1762 to 1768, and the blooming rose, a hallmark for large silver pieces from the same years. The master’s hallmark is present, but its details do not currently allow for a definitive identification of the silversmith. Hallmarks are also found on the inside of the lid, where they remain legible despite wear.

The piece is in good condition, with the usual signs of wear typical of an 18th-century piece of silverware.

Height: 11 cm. Gross weight: 170 g.