Description
MARTIN-GUILLAUME BIENNAIS SERVICE OF THE PRINCE CAMILLE BORGHESE AND THE PRINCESS, NEE PAULINE BONAPARTE, SISTER OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON IER Cup covered in vermeil. Dome-shaped cover surmounted by a carved grip in the form of a putti holding a bunch of grapes, seated on a rosette of water leaves, itself surmounting a rosette of palmettes with days, cut out, engraved with the princely Borghese arms. Bowl with engraved arms in suite, with two handles foliated and united, decorated in belt of a head of Medusa surrounded by a crown of oak leaves and laurel bound by a ribbon, enriched on both sides of two fantastic animals, horse and bull winged, with tails of dragons. The bowl contains a round container in vermeil, with a flat bottom, engraved on the belt with the number "B" under a princely crown, and decorated with two legs to support the lid. Mounted on a foot decorated with a string of small balls, on a foot flared to the base, surrounded by a large frieze of continuous foliage. The whole rests on a square base with sloping angles enriched with a flowery frieze. Mounted on four claw feet surmounted by busts of winged lions. Net weight : 2727 g. Height : 31,7 cm. Marks On the lid: Signature " Biennais Orfévre de S.M. L'Empereur et Roi à Paris ". Mark of title 1 and of average guarantee Paris 1809-1819 On the container: hallmark of the association of goldsmiths and goldsmith Biennais. On the bowl: hallmark of the association of goldsmiths and silversmith Biennais. Engraved with the number "3". On the foot: Hallmark of title 1 and of average guarantee Paris 1809-1819, hallmark of the association of goldsmiths and silversmith Biennais. B.E. First Empire period Provenance and history: Comprising more than 1800 pieces, the service was started by Biennais and continued by other renowned silversmiths such as Odiot, Naudin or Italian silversmiths. The service was dispersed in 1892 at the sale of the Borghese collections in a single lot. It later joined the Edith Rockefeller McCormick collection, which exhibited the entire service from 1924 to 1932 at the Chicago Art Institute. At her death in 1934, the service was sold by the American Art Association in 150 lots.
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MARTIN-GUILLAUME BIENNAIS SERVICE OF THE PRINCE CAMILLE BORGHESE AND THE PRINCESS, NEE PAULINE BONAPARTE, SISTER OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON IER Cup covered in vermeil. Dome-shaped cover surmounted by a carved grip in the form of a putti holding a bunch of grapes, seated on a rosette of water leaves, itself surmounting a rosette of palmettes with days, cut out, engraved with the princely Borghese arms. Bowl with engraved arms in suite, with two handles foliated and united, decorated in belt of a head of Medusa surrounded by a crown of oak leaves and laurel bound by a ribbon, enriched on both sides of two fantastic animals, horse and bull winged, with tails of dragons. The bowl contains a round container in vermeil, with a flat bottom, engraved on the belt with the number "B" under a princely crown, and decorated with two legs to support the lid. Mounted on a foot decorated with a string of small balls, on a foot flared to the base, surrounded by a large frieze of continuous foliage. The whole rests on a square base with sloping angles enriched with a flowery frieze. Mounted on four claw feet surmounted by busts of winged lions. Net weight : 2727 g. Height : 31,7 cm. Marks On the lid: Signature " Biennais Orfévre de S.M. L'Empereur et Roi à Paris ". Mark of title 1 and of average guarantee Paris 1809-1819 On the container: hallmark of the association of goldsmiths and goldsmith Biennais. On the bowl: hallmark of the association of goldsmiths and silversmith Biennais. Engraved with the number "3". On the foot: Hallmark of title 1 and of average guarantee Paris 1809-1819, hallmark of the association of goldsmiths and silversmith Biennais. B.E. First Empire period Provenance and history: Comprising more than 1800 pieces, the service was started by Biennais and continued by other renowned silversmiths such as Odiot, Naudin or Italian silversmiths. The service was dispersed in 1892 at the sale of the Borghese collections in a single lot. It later joined the Edith Rockefeller McCormick collection, which exhibited the entire service from 1924 to 1932 at the Chicago Art Institute. At her death in 1934, the service was sold by the American Art Association in 150 lots.
