Coffee pot in solid silver by Antoine BOULLIER, Paris, 1781-1782

Tripod jug in silver baluster shape with escutcheon fasteners. The hinged and doucine cover is molded with nets, it is embellished with a fruit catch on a terrace of radiant lanceolate leaves.
Ebony handle.

Master silversmith: Antoine BOULLIER, received in 1775.

An almost identical model of the same goldsmith in the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.


ANTOINE BOULLIER (1749-1835)

Born in Châteauroux on January 30, 1749, Antoine BOULLIER is the son of the goldsmith Joseph BOULLIER.
He learned the trade from his father as an apprentice from 1764, before settling in Paris three years later in order to complete his apprenticeship in the workshop of a Parisian master, while taking drawing lessons. and sculpture at the Free Royal School of Drawing. He also attended the painter VIEN’s workshop.
Antoine BOULLIER was awarded the Grand Prize of the Free Royal School of Drawing in Paris in 1774 on December 16, 1775, with the support of the famous Edme-Pierre BALZAC and funding from the Duke of CHAROST.

Settled on the Place des Victoires, Antoine BOULLIER seems to have a relatively large production and supplies pieces for some of the most influential families of the aristocracy and the sovereigns of Europe. He bears the title of ordinary goldsmith of the Duke of ORLEANS, receives orders from the Marquis de MARIGNY and the court of Saint Petersburg, is asked by Robert-Joseph AUGUSTE to make pieces of the sumptuous service ordered by King George III d 'England (1778-1780). In 1778, he executed a toiletry kit for Count POTOCKI and in 1783 provided the Russian court. In 1786 he delivered pieces to the future President of the United States Thomas JEFFERSON, who appreciated the clean and simple lines and the discreet ornamentation of BOULLIER pieces, very modern for the period, despite very high prices.

He partially retired from his profession in favor of his former assistant during the Revolution and became a farmer. He then took over the direction of his workshop at the beginning of the 19th century, participated in the creation of the tea service for Emperor NAPOLEON I in 1810 alongside Martin-Guillaume BIENNAIS, making the majestic tea fountain, but was not very active, even if he participated in the Exhibition of Industry Products in 1806, withdrawing definitively at the start of the Restoration.

His remarkably long career, from 1776 to 1818, provided first-rate information on the evolution of the neoclassical style in the French decorative arts. As with all the great goldsmiths of the Ancien Régime, its production ranges from simple to ornate, with an accomplished balance between ornament and forms.
Inherited from the teaching of the Free Royal School of Drawings, this style skillfully combines ancient inspiration, purity of form and choice of ornaments combining naturalism and antiquity, particularly for the years 1775-90. Another of its characteristics will be the quality of its remarkable carving, executed with almost mechanical precision.


MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

• PARIS, MUSÉE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS – Cafetière – argent, manche en noyer, Paris, 1778-1779, inv. 29995.
• PARIS, MUSÉE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS – Paire de flambeaux – argent, Paris, 1776-1777, inv. 30142.
• PARIS, MUSÉE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS – Paire de flambeaux – argent, Paris, 1779-1780, inv. 20444
• PARIS, MUSÉE DU LOUVRE – Service à thé de Napoléon Ier, Fontaine à thé – vermeil, Paris, 1809-1819. Poinçon de fabricant : Antoine BOULLIER, signature : Biennais orfèvre de S.M. L’Empereur à Paris. Inv. OA 9537/1.
• CHOLET, ÉGLISE SAINT-PIERRE, Reliquaire de la Vraie Croix, 1781, classé Monument Historique le 8 janvier 1975.
• BLOND, ÉGLISE PAROISSIALE DE L'ORDINATION-DE-SAINT-MARTIN, Calice et patène, 1783-1784, classé Monument Historique le 29 avril 2003 (OM/2003-87/N° 67)
• MARTIGNÉ-BRIAND, PRIEURÉ DE SAINTE-MARIE DE FONTEVRAUD LA BARRE, Burettes, plateau à burettes, 1781, classé Monument Historique le 24 janvier 1975.
• LA SOUTERRAINE, ÉGLISE PAROISSIALE DE L'ASSOMPTION-DE-LA-VIERGE, Calice, 1787-1788, classé Monument Historique le 18 avril 2002 (OM/2002-23/N° 85).
• MONTICELLO, THOMAS JEFFERSON FOUNDATION – Vegetables dishes – argent, Paris, 1786-1787, 1958-11-1/2; 1957-30; 1957-31.
• SAINT-PETERSBOURG, MUSÉE DE L’HERMITAGE, Cylindrical Jar With a Detachable Lid, 1788, nécessaire de toilette de la Princesse Nathalie Galitzine. Inv. 18279.
• SAINT-PETERSBOURG, MUSÉE DE L’HERMITAGE, Cylindrical Jar With a Detachable Lid, 1788, nécessaire de toilette de la Princesse Nathalie Galitzine. Inv. 18278.
• SAINT-PETERSBOURG, MUSÉE DE L’HERMITAGE, Table Toilet Mirror, 1788, nécessaire de toilette de la Princesse Nathalie Galitzine. Inv. 18266.
• SAINT-PETERSBOURG, MUSÉE DE L’HERMITAGE, Terrine, 1784-85.
• LISBONNE, MUSÉE CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN, Terrine, 1784-85.
• DETROIT, DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS, Covered Bowl, 1787. 57.71.
• LONDRES, WADDESDON MANOR, Dinner service, salières du service de Georges III, Électeur de Hanovre et roi d’Angleterre, Paris, 1778-1780. 8.2003.1-82.
• NEW YORK, METROPOLITAN MUSEUM, Pair of Candelsticks.



BIBLIOGRAPHY

• COLLECTIF, "Les Grands Orfèvres de Louis XIII à Charles X", Hachette, 1965.
• Katharine BAETJER et James David DRAPER, "Only the Best: Masterpieces of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon", NY Metropolitan Museum of Arts, New York, 1999, p.12.
• COLLECTIF, "Exposition d'orfèvrerie française civile du XVIe siècle au début du XVIIIe : 12 avril 1926 - 12 mai 1926, Musée des Arts décoratifs, Musée du Louvre, Pavillon de Marsan", catalogue d’exposition, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 1926.
• Yves CARLIER, "Antoine Boullier, orfèvre parisien et infatigable producteur", in La Revue de l’Art, Paris, Ophrys, n° 156.
• Anne DION-TENENBAUM, "L'orfèvre de Napoléon, M.G. Biennais (1764-1843)", catalogue d’exposition, Paris, Réunion des musées nationaux, 2003.
• KOEPPE Wolfram," Vienna Circa 1780: An Imperial Silver Service Rediscovered, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York", Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2010.
• Philippa GLANVILLE, "The King's Silver: George III's Service in Hanover and England", Waddesdon; National Trust, Waddesdon Manor, 2003.



EXHIBITIONS

• "Celebrating 10 years in Russia", Sotheby’s, Russian State Library, 23-24 May 2017.
• "L’orfèvrerie française civile du XVIe siècle au début du XIXe siècle", Musée des Arts décoratifs, Palais du Louvre, Pavillon de Marsan, Paris, 1926, no. 179 ("soupière et son socle aux armes du Duc de Mortemart", Paris, 1778).
• "L'orfèvre de Napoléon : Martin-Guillaume Biennais", Paris, Musée du Louvre, aile Richelieu, 15 October 2003-19 January 2004.
• "The King's Table, The Gilbert Collection", London, 18 May - 31 December 2002.
• "The Hanoverians on Britain's throne", Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum, Hanover 17 May – 5 October 2014.