STRASBOURG; THE EWER AND BASIN WITH MARK OF JOHANNES-JACOB KIRSTEIN, 1766; THE SALVER WITH MARK OF JOHANN PHILIPP KRAEMER (KREMER), 1775

Details

A LOUIS XV SILVER-GILT EWER, BASIN AND SALVER
STRASBOURG; THE EWER AND BASIN WITH MARK OF JOHANNES-JACOB KIRSTEIN, 1766; THE SALVER WITH MARK OF JOHANN PHILIPP KRAEMER (KREMER), 1775
The ewer of baluster-form with reed-and-tie borders at foot, mid-rib, shoulder, rim and handle, chased in centre with a foliate ribbon-tied cartouche, the hinged cover with rocaille border, the harp shaped handle leaf-clad, the shaped oval basin with similar border with bows at intervals, the center applied with bulrushes framing a beaded rim to hold ewer; the shaped oval salver on four foliate scroll feet with reeded border, chased with four ribbon-tied flower sprays, all engraved in centre with the monogram LA beneath a princely coronet, marked underneath with Reconnaissance, date-letters (P and Z) and makers
The basin 13 ¾ in. (35 cm.) long; the salver 10 ¼ in. (26 cm.) long
The ewer and basin 67 oz. 5 dwt. (2,092 gr.); the salver 21 oz. 12 dwt. (673 gr.)
The monogram is that of Princess Louise Auguste von Hessen-Darmstadt (1757-1830), Grand Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

Provenance

Princess Louise Auguste von Hessen-Darmstadt (1757-1830).
with Jacques Kugel, Paris, February 1975.
Acquired from the above by the Blaquier-Arrieta Family.

Literature

A. Kugel, Ph. Bastian, P. Loeb-Obrenan, Vermeilleux ! L'argent Doré De Strasbourg du XVIe Au XIXe Siècle, Paris, 2014, p. 63.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

This ewer, basin and glove salver are part of a toilet service presented to Princess Louise Auguste von Hessen-Darmstadt (1757-1830) and later completed for her wedding in 1775 to Karl August, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1757-1828).

Karl August was a German prince, sovereign Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and an enlightened ruler and patron of the arts. Louise herself played an active role in the intellectual and social life of the court, notably by maintaining connections with the leading literary figures of the time. It was a happy marriage that also strengthened relations between the princely houses of central Germany.

This service also comprised a pair of toilet pots by Johann Philipp Kraemer, a five-piece tea and coffee service by Nathaniel Jacob Horning, a table bell, a rectangular box and a plate described and illustrated in A. Kugel, Vermeilleux! No. 63.

Christie's also sold from the Stern Collection, Paris, 12 December 2025 two other elements from this toilet service, lot 235 a pair of candlesticks by Johannes Jacob Kirstein and lot 426 a pair of snuffers and tray by Nathaniel Jacob Horning. All these pieces of exceptional quality have similar decoration and thus appear to belong to a larger service comprising both toilet items and tableware.

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