ONE PAIR WITH MARK OF JEAN-FRANÇOIS BALZAC, PARIS, 1762; THE OTHER PAIR WITH MARK OF EDME-PIERRE BALZAC, PARIS, 1767

Details

TWO PAIRS OF LOUIS XV SILVER CANDLESTICKS
ONE PAIR WITH MARK OF JEAN-FRANÇOIS BALZAC, PARIS, 1762; THE OTHER PAIR WITH MARK OF EDME-PIERRE BALZAC, PARIS, 1767
Each on shaped circular base with ovolo border and fluted domed centre, the tapering shell-capped baluster stem with campana socket, one pair with associated nozzles, one pair with monogram KI on footrim and engraved L on underside, all marked under bases, footrims, inside sockets and on nozzles; one nozzle by René-Pierre Ferrier, Paris, 1775-1779 and the other by Antoine Lucas, Paris, 1774
10 1⁄8 in. (25.7 cm.) high
45 oz. 8 dwt. (1,413 gr.) and 41 oz 4 dwt. (1,282 gr.)

Provenance

Acquired from Veronique Girard, Paris.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

Edmé-Pierre Balzac is best known for creating the major pieces of the celebrated royal French silver service known as the Penthièvre-Orléans Service.
Balzac registered his mark in 1739, the year he became "privileged goldsmith of the Court" and married Elisabeth-Philippine Penel, goddaughter of the Dowager Duchesse d'Orléans. Archives show that Balzac was a technical innovator. In 1755 he invented a lathe that eliminated the need for solder and in 1766 a machine to stamp table silver with threaded borders (machine á imprimer les couverts á filets).
In spite of receiving spectacular commissions, such as for the Penthièvre Service, Balzac was beset by financial difficulties, typical of Parisian silversmiths in the mid-18th century. In 1749 he conceded his royal warrant to his brother Jean-François who had entered his first mark that same year.
Jean-François Balzac started his career as a goldsmith at the late age of 36 which suggests that he probably worked in his brother's workshop for a time and continued to collaborate with him thereafter.

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