Marseille - Solid Silver Sugar Bowl, Silversmith Mathieu Bremond, Admitted As A Master In 1752

Marseille1781– Solid silver lidded sugar bowl,crafted by master silversmith Mathieu Bremond,active in the 18th century.

Bulging and rounded at the top, it isdecorated with rocaille wave motifs at the base andaround the neck.
Narrow at the bottom, it rests on fourattached feet, extended by foliage motifs that serve as fastenersand lend the piece a beautiful visual harmony.

Its lid, richly chased with a frieze of leavesinterrupted by pearls, is surmounted by a cluster of strawberries on itsleaf-shaped terrace, forming an elegant fretwork pattern.
Thehandles are raised, shaped like clasps with a shell at their center. Thebowl, modeled after the lid, is adorned with a generous,dynamic garland of foliage, modeled after the frieze on thelid.

Discreet micro-marks—traces of use that in no way detract fromthe beauty or patina of this sugar bowl, a testament to the craftsmanshipof Marseille in the mid-18th century.

In very fine condition, a superb piece of silverwork that is exceptionally well-preserved.

Engraved with the hallmark of themaster silversmith, crowned initials M B,City of Marseille hallmark for the year 1781 on the reverse of thesugar bowl as well as on the inside of the lid.

Weight and dimensions:

Height of the sugar bowl:16.5 cm / 6.5 in.

Length from one handle to theother: 15 cm / 5.91 in.

Total weight of solid silver - Sterling silver weight: 348 g.

Master Silversmith:
MathieuBremond

He served his apprenticeship with the silversmith AntoineBremond, his father, from 1730 to 1738.

He remained a journeyman silversmith for 14 years before presentinghis masterpiece in April 1752: agold ring.

In 1752, he replaced the goldsmith J.J. Giraud, who had resigned, andstruck his large hallmark on April 22, 1752, in Marseilleand his small hallmark for small gold pieces in 1757 in Aix.

Being quite wealthy, he purchased the former convent of theGrande Trinité (or Couvent de Trinitaires).

Mathieu Bremond produced liturgical objects(chalices, cruets, ciboria), butjust as many pieces of secular silverware (sugar bowls, oil cruets, candlesticks,salt shakers, pitchers, etc.).

Doc. and ref: PalissyDatabase / Ministry of Culture
Goldsmithing in Provence in the18th century

Chalice dated 1753— entry from the Ministry ofCulture (Palissy database): chalice made in 1753, dated byhallmark, by Mathieu Brémond, silversmith in Marseille. Pop Culture

Pair of candlesticks, Marseille 1779— auctionlot description / catalog (Crédit Municipal): pair of candlestickshallmarked “Mathieu BREMOND (became a master in 1752) etc...”.