Paris, 1819-1838 – Large silver centerpiece bowl with masks, Vieillard mark

Large oblong solid silver bowl, 950/1000 standard, by silversmith Charles-Louis DUPRÉ.
Decorated with a frieze of water leaves around the rim and a moulded lip. It features two scroll-shaped handles in the form of cornucopias adorned with acanthus leaves, gadroons, scrolls, and fruit, attached to masks of bearded men inspired by antiquity. The basin rests on a pedestal decorated with a beaded ring and a frieze of water leaves.
The centre is engraved with the monogram "SL" in neo-Gothic script.

Hallmarks
• Vieillard 1st standard
• Large Paris warranty
• Maker’s mark: "A star within a lozenge and the word DUPRÉ", for Charles-Louis DUPRÉ.

Dimensions
• Height: 19.8 cm
• Width: 35.4 cm
• Depth: 13.2 cm

Net weight: 559 grams

Restauration period.


Condition report:
Excellent condition.

This large bowl, which could be used as a table ornament for floral arrangements or as a wine cooler, was likely originally an oil cruet basin.


Charles-Louis DUPRÉ was a silversmith based in Paris at 5 rue des Coquilles. He specialised in tableware and registered his hallmark on 1 August 1827.



MUSEUMS, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, AND CLASSIFIED OBJECTS

• MUSÉE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS, BORDEAUX: Pair of chiselled silver and cut crystal salt cellars, with a square base decorated with an interlaced frieze, supported at the corners by lion paws, Paris, 1819-1838.
• COLLÉGIALE SAINT-VINCENT, MONTRÉAL (Aude): Pair of silver alms dishes, Paris, 1819-1838. Classified as Historic Monuments on 26 April 1976.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Archives de la Garantie, Paris : pl. d'insculp. n° 27
• Archives de la Garantie, Paris : registre d'insculp. 1820 1840.
• PASQUIER Jacqueline du, Orfèvrerie, catalogue des collections des XVIIIe et XIXe siècle, Musée des arts décoratifs de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, 1987.