Charpenat J.-P., Supplier of the Crown - Pair of salt cellars, Paris 1783

Pair of double salt cellars in solid silver by the goldsmith Jean-Pierre CHARPENAT. Oval in shape, they rest on four claw feet. The body is openworked with garlands of flowers and fruits, such as roses, forget-me-nots, bunches of grapes, united by medallions, ribbons and architectural elements, centered by a blank engraving medallion supported by two cherubs. These elements are delicately framed with a frieze of stripes of hearts and pearls. The central obelisk-shaped grip, surmounted by a sphere, receives an ornamentation of garlands of intertwined roses and foliage united by a knot of ribbons, inscribed in a frieze of pearls. It is adorned with chains, each enhanced with fine silver pearls.

Hallmarks
• "Charge" for Paris, 1782-1789.
• "Jurande" letter T, 1783.
• Goldsmith, "JCP un croissant, une fleur de lys couronnée, deux grains de remède" for Jean-Pierre CHARPENAT.
• "Décharge".


Jean-Pierre CHARPENAT, Supplier of the Crown during Louis XVI period, was master in Paris in 1782. He died in 1806.
He is the goldsmith who makes the famous travel kit for Queen MARIE-ANTOINETTE as well as its replica, ordered by the Queen in 1791 for her sister MARIE-CHRISTINE but intended to be taken with the luggage of the royal family, during the flight which ended at Varennes.


These salt cellars are of a model very similar to the vinegar oil maker made by Jean-Pierre CHARPENAT and kept in the collections of the LOUVRE MUSEUM in Paris.


MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

• MUSÉE DU LOUVRE, PARIS – Nécessaire de voyage de Marie-Antoinette – silver, gold, copper, ebony, Paris, 1787-1789.
• MUSÉE DU LOUVRE, PARIS – Huilier – silver, crystal, Paris, 1787.
• MUSÉE INTERNATIONAL DE LA PARFUMERIE, GRASSE – Coffret nécessaire de voyage dit de la reine Marie-Antoinette – acajou, cuivre, peau, argent, ébène, ivoire, miroir, porcelaine dure, cristal, vermeil, papier, fil, bois, tissu, Paris, 1791.
• METROPOLITAN MUSEUM, NEW-YORK – Traveling candlestick – silver, Paris, 1788-1789.
• BASILIQUE SAINT-SERNIN, TOULOUSE, TRESOR – Calice – silver, Paris, 1798-1809, listed as a Historic Monument on 22 June 1992.
• ÉGLISE PAROISSIALE NOTRE-DAME SAINT-JEAN-BAPTISTE, FRESNAY-LE-SAMSON – Coffret – silver, Paris, 2nd half of the 18th century.
• ÉGLISE PAROISSIALE SAINT-GERVAIS SAINT-PROTAIS, LE GRAND-PRESSIGNY – Ciboire des malades – partially gilded silver, Paris, 1782-1790.
• ÉGLISE PAROISSIALE SAINT-VINCENT, PANZOULT – Ciboire – partially gilded silver, Paris, 1782-1790.
• ÉGLISE PAROISSIALE SAINT-PIERRE, SAINT-EBONS, TRESOR – Ciboire des malades – partially gilded silver, Paris, 1782-1790.
• PRIEURE DE BENEDICTINS SAINT-DENIS, SAINT-DENIS D’OLERON – Patène – silver, Paris, 1798-1809.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

• DURAND Jannic, BIMBRENET-PRIVAT Michèle, DASSAS Frédéric, "Décors, mobilier et objets d’art du musée du Louvre – De Louis XIV à Marie-Antoinette", Paris, Louvre Éditions, 2014.
• MADAME CAMPAN, "Mémoires de Madame Campan, première femme de chambre de Marie-Antoinette", 1988.
• MARIE-ANTOINETTE ; SETH Catriona, presented by, "Lettres inédites", Albin Michel, 2019.


EXHIBITIONS

• "Parfums et flacons au XVIIIe siècle", Musée International de la Parfumerie, Grasse, 12 May - 15 September 1994
• "Nécessaire de voyage dit de Marie-Antoinette", Musée des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, Versailles, 6 January - 29 March 2005.