Lot Essay
These two jardninières are part of an ensemble of nineteen pieces making up the only surviving example of a surtout de table of the Louis XIV period. Surtouts were meant as table decorations. Filled with fruit, flowers or delicacies such as "fruit confits", sugar compositions or desserts, the various shapes and sizes of their parts made it possible to arrange them according to the size and style of the table to be decorated.
In addition to the present jardninières, the surtout comprises: one large centre-piece, four rectangular pieces with curved sides, two triangular, four octagonal and six hexagonal identical to the present pieces. All show the same decoration on the sides with scrolls and pierced bands of strapwork enclosing classical medallion, typical of the last Louis XIV period. The first five pieces have scroll feet, headed by tritons for the centre-piece; all other have spool-shaped gadrooned feet. Assembling together the nineteen parts of the surtout would have required a space of at least 4 meters long by 1.2 meters wide.
Elie Pacot is recorded as working in Lille from the end of the 1680's to 1713. He is known from a number of pieces, both domestic and religious, of good quality but plain design. The lavishness of the surtout bears witness to the remarkable capacity (already examplified by Huguenot silversmiths at the end of the 17th century) of French provincial silversmiths to elevate themselves instantly to the requirements of the most demanding patrons.
The identity of the original owner of the surtout has long remained a mystery. At the time of manufacture, Lille was occupied by English, Dutch and Austrian armies fighting against France in the Spanish Succession war. It can therefore be assumed that the surtout was commissioned by one of the high-ranking, wealthy foreign Officers. A likely possibility is the Duke of Marlborough, commander in chief with Prince Eugène of Savoy of the allied armies: the Great Duke was known for the lavishness of his commissions and there is indeed in an English private collection a silver ewer and basin, also made by Pacot, which can be traced back to his collection.
The history of the surtout following Marlborough's armies' withdrawal from Lille in 1713 is unknown. However its history in the 19th century is well documented. The surtout first appeared in its entirety at auction at Christie's London on April 9th and 10th, 1829, with the collections of the late Lady Gwydir; it was purchased by the London firm of Garrard's. The eight hexagonal pieces were then made into dish-warmers by fitting them inside with lamps (still visible in the jardninières) and complementing them with dishes and covers (presented here as lot 147) designed by Garrard's in a supposedly similar style. Sold to the Viscount Combermere of Bhurtpore, some of them subsequently passed into the hands of the 5th Earl of Rosebery. The present pieces entered the collection of the Earl Fife.
The majority of the other pieces appeared in various auctions: at Christie's London on 16th June 1878, and in the same rooms again on 13th March 1929 with the Brownlow collection. More recently, a set of four hexagonal pieces (with Rosebery arms) were sold at Sotheby's Geneva on 10th May 1991, and a pair of the large rectangular pieces on scroll feet at Christie's Geneva on 10th May 1988.
Having thus been dispersed since the 19th century, pieces from this great surtout have since found their way into major collections: Léon and Jacques Helft, D. David-Weill, Henry P. MacIlhenny, A. Lopez-Willshaw.
In addition to the present jardninières, the surtout comprises: one large centre-piece, four rectangular pieces with curved sides, two triangular, four octagonal and six hexagonal identical to the present pieces. All show the same decoration on the sides with scrolls and pierced bands of strapwork enclosing classical medallion, typical of the last Louis XIV period. The first five pieces have scroll feet, headed by tritons for the centre-piece; all other have spool-shaped gadrooned feet. Assembling together the nineteen parts of the surtout would have required a space of at least 4 meters long by 1.2 meters wide.
Elie Pacot is recorded as working in Lille from the end of the 1680's to 1713. He is known from a number of pieces, both domestic and religious, of good quality but plain design. The lavishness of the surtout bears witness to the remarkable capacity (already examplified by Huguenot silversmiths at the end of the 17th century) of French provincial silversmiths to elevate themselves instantly to the requirements of the most demanding patrons.
The identity of the original owner of the surtout has long remained a mystery. At the time of manufacture, Lille was occupied by English, Dutch and Austrian armies fighting against France in the Spanish Succession war. It can therefore be assumed that the surtout was commissioned by one of the high-ranking, wealthy foreign Officers. A likely possibility is the Duke of Marlborough, commander in chief with Prince Eugène of Savoy of the allied armies: the Great Duke was known for the lavishness of his commissions and there is indeed in an English private collection a silver ewer and basin, also made by Pacot, which can be traced back to his collection.
The history of the surtout following Marlborough's armies' withdrawal from Lille in 1713 is unknown. However its history in the 19th century is well documented. The surtout first appeared in its entirety at auction at Christie's London on April 9th and 10th, 1829, with the collections of the late Lady Gwydir; it was purchased by the London firm of Garrard's. The eight hexagonal pieces were then made into dish-warmers by fitting them inside with lamps (still visible in the jardninières) and complementing them with dishes and covers (presented here as lot 147) designed by Garrard's in a supposedly similar style. Sold to the Viscount Combermere of Bhurtpore, some of them subsequently passed into the hands of the 5th Earl of Rosebery. The present pieces entered the collection of the Earl Fife.
The majority of the other pieces appeared in various auctions: at Christie's London on 16th June 1878, and in the same rooms again on 13th March 1929 with the Brownlow collection. More recently, a set of four hexagonal pieces (with Rosebery arms) were sold at Sotheby's Geneva on 10th May 1991, and a pair of the large rectangular pieces on scroll feet at Christie's Geneva on 10th May 1988.
Having thus been dispersed since the 19th century, pieces from this great surtout have since found their way into major collections: Léon and Jacques Helft, D. David-Weill, Henry P. MacIlhenny, A. Lopez-Willshaw.