Paris, 1786, Louis XVI-style Gravy Boat In Solid Silver, By Jean-charles Roquillet-desnoyers

Solid silver sauce boat from the Louis XVI period — Paris, 1786 — Jean-Charles Roquillet-Desnoyers

An elegant solid silver sauce boat crafted in Paris in 1786 by Jean-Charles Roquillet-Desnoyers, a master silversmith who received his certification in 1772. It combines a smooth, gently curved body with a decorative motif of foliage and moldings characteristic of neoclassical silverwork from the reign of Louis XVI.

The deep, oval-shaped body extends into a wide, upturned spout. A fillet moldings runs along the rim and follows the curve of the silhouette up to the base of the handle.

The handle, formed into a broad loop, is adorned with foliage in relief and scrollwork. Its lower attachment extends onto the body in the form of two finely chiseled acanthus leaves, framing an oval medallion bordered by pearls, without engraving. The work on the veins and the matte surfaces makes the foliage stand out against the polished silver background.

The sauceboat rests on a cast-silver pedestal, featuring a radiating pattern of fluted grooves with rounded ends. A band of ribbon-like laurel leaves accentuates its base, while a decorated collar marks the junction with the body. The opulence of this base and the handle attachments balances the simplicity of the body.

The piece bears the Parisian hallmarks of the Ancien Régime as well as the hallmark of Jean-Charles Roquillet-Desnoyers, consisting of the initials JCRD, a walnut tree, a crowned fleur-de-lis, and two grains of medicine.

Jean-Charles Roquillet-Desnoyers began an apprenticeship with Pierre-Henri Chéret in 1761. He was certified as a master on April 4, 1772, and had his hallmark engraved on the following April 8. He worked on Place Dauphine, then on Rue Mauconseil. His work included, in particular, pitchers, teapots, soup tureens, candlesticks, and serving pieces. His ties to the Chéret workshop continued throughout his career: a collaboration with Jean-Baptiste Chéret is notably documented by a dressing mirror bearing the coat of arms of the Rohan-Chabot family.

Paris, 1786.
Louis XVI period.
Master silversmith: Jean-Charles Roquillet-Desnoyers, admitted in 1772.
Weight: 485 g.
Length: 24.5 cm.