Lot Essay
The monogram is that of Nicholas Pavlovich (1796-1855), later the Emperor Nicholas I of Russia. He was the son of the Emperor Paul (1754-1801) and his second wife Maria Feodorovna, Duchess of Wurtemberg. he married Alexandra Feodorovna, Princess Charlotte of Prussia in 1817 and succeded his brother Alexander I (1777-1825) in 1826. He was the eldesr brother of Mikhail Pavlovich and also patronised the leading Parisian goldsmiths including Biennais.
This model was one favoured by Biennais and used in the Borghese service (see A. Phillips and J. Sloane Antiquity Revisited, English and French Silver-Gilt, from the Collection of Audrey Love, London, 1997). It is interesting to note that Cahier used basically the same form for a pair in the Mikhail Pavlovitch service (see V. Brett The Sotheby's Directory of Silver, 1600-1940, London, 1986. fig. 1778. This pair were sold at Sotheby's Zurich. 18 November 1977, lot 162).
The pair to this wine-cooler was sold at Sotheby's Geneva, 14 November 1988, lot 101.
This model was one favoured by Biennais and used in the Borghese service (see A. Phillips and J. Sloane Antiquity Revisited, English and French Silver-Gilt, from the Collection of Audrey Love, London, 1997). It is interesting to note that Cahier used basically the same form for a pair in the Mikhail Pavlovitch service (see V. Brett The Sotheby's Directory of Silver, 1600-1940, London, 1986. fig. 1778. This pair were sold at Sotheby's Zurich. 18 November 1977, lot 162).
The pair to this wine-cooler was sold at Sotheby's Geneva, 14 November 1988, lot 101.