54 - Martin-Guillaume BIENNAIS (1764–1843).

Martin-Guillaume BIENNAIS (1764–1843). A significant set of 11 deep plates in the Napoleon I style, made of first-grade silver, circular in shape, with the rim chased with a frieze of palmettes. Paris, 1809–1819. Hallmark “F” surmounted by an “A” in an oval: the Director’s Office of the Assay Office in Vienna (Austria) used this hallmark from 1810 to 1824 to mark small articles of precious metal subject to tax. The letter A was the distinctive mark of the Vienna Assay Office. Diameter: 24 cm. Height: 2.2 cm. Weight of one plate: 480–520 grams. Total weight: 5,380 g. A plate matching the model is included; it was made at a later date to complete the series. Diameter: 24.2 cm. Weight: 560 g. Expert: Florian Doux. The production of silver plates occupies a significant place in Martin-Guillaume Biennais’s body of work. These objects illustrate the new demands of an imperial lifestyle, in which the functionality of the pieces remains inseparable from their symbolic dimension. Martin-Guillaume Biennais was one of the leading figures in the French decorative arts during the Consulate and the First Empire. Born on April 29, 1764, in La Cochère, in the Orne department, he settled in Paris in 1788 as a tabletier—a craftsman specializing in the manufacture and sale of small luxury objects made of ivory, precious woods, and hard materials. Based on Rue Saint-Honoré, under the sign of the “Violet Monkey,” he gradually developed a major trading and manufacturing firm, whose activities extended to cabinetmaking, tabletierie, and goldsmithing. His encounter with General Bonaparte at the end of the 18th century marked a decisive turning point in his career. After becoming First Consul and then emperor, Napoleon I placed his trust in him and made his workshop one of his principal suppliers of precious objects. In particular, he contributed to the creation of commissions for the 1804 coronation ceremony and supplied ceremonial objects as well as numerous personal and household accessories. He was awarded the title of “Goldsmith to His Majesty the Emperor and King.” Palmettes, acanthus leaves, laurel wreaths, rosettes, sphinxes, swans, eagles, and military trophies make up Biennais’s decorative repertoire. This repertoire draws heavily on Greco-Roman antiquity and imperial iconography. The workshop was particularly renowned for its production of travel and toiletries sets, whose interior organization attests to remarkable technical mastery and close collaboration between cabinetmakers, woodworkers, goldsmiths, and other craftsmen. Biennais’s reputation quickly spread beyond France’s borders. His creations were sought after by several European courts, notably in Russia, Austria, and the German states, contributing to the international influence of Parisian decorative arts. After the fall of the Empire, he continued his work before retiring from business in 1821, selling his establishment to Jean-Charles Cahier. He died in Paris on March 27, 1843. It was as part of Napoleon I’s traveling silver service that Biennais’s plates acquired their most notable historical significance. Intended to accompany the Emperor on his travels and military campaigns, this set had to meet specific requirements. Unlike the grand ceremonial services intended for imperial residences, this silverware had to be transportable, storable, and usable under sometimes difficult conditions. The sturdiness of the pieces, the simplicity of their forms, and the streamlined organization of the set were therefore essential requirements. This emphasis on functionality, however, did not preclude the assertion of their owner’s imperial status. Two major variants of plates bearing the Emperor’s coat of arms have been identified today. The first features a plain border and a relatively understated design. The second, more elaborate variant, has a border adorned with a frieze of palmettes—known as “à bord fort” (thick-rimmed)—to withstand the rigors of campaign travel and appears to have been reserved for distinguished guests. In 1804, Napoleon commissioned Martin-Guillaume Biennais to create the important “Campaign Service,” which he carried with him on his travels. This travel silverware was designed to withstand the rigors of constant travel as effectively as possible. The service was delivered in several batches between 1804 and 1815; for example, we know that 100 plates with thick rims were delivered by Biennais in 1810 and 113 plates with knives before the Russian campaign in 1812. The popularity of this silverware extended far beyond the borders of the Empire, and many aristocratic families and