Silver and Vermeil Ceremonial Egg Cup

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Description

The Vallée workshop, taken over by Nicoud successors and located at 30 Boulevard de Strasbourg in Paris, exemplifies the opulence … Read more The Vallée workshop, taken over by Nicoud successors and located at 30 Boulevard de Strasbourg in Paris, exemplifies the opulence of bourgeois silversmithing during the Second Empire. These Parisian workshops produced tableware for a wealthy clientele, fond of a decorative vocabulary inherited from Antiquity and enhanced by the technical advances of the 19th century.

This ceremonial egg cup is a shining example: the miniature Medici shape, the tripod base with goat's legs, the scrolled handles adorned with sculpted roses—all hallmarks of the grand French decorative taste of the Belle Époque. The monogram "BL" chiseled within a coat of arms indicates that the object was a custom order, intended for a prestigious table.

The vermeil technique—gilding the interior with fine gold over sterling silver—creates the warm and luminous contrast characteristic of exceptional pieces. An object that transcends its utilitarian function to become an aesthetic and social statement. Minerva hallmark and silversmith's mark. Very good condition, exceptional piece. Weight: 61g. This piece has an attribution mark,
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