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

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.