Paris 1809-1819 - Solid silver drageoir with allegory of Faithful Love

Superb drageoir in sterling silver and crystal decorated with a decoration of the allegory of Loyal Love.

The ornamental repertoire of this piece receiving a finely chiselled decoration composed, on the body surmounted by an openwork frieze crowned with a frieze of water leaves, of Eros carrying quiver slung over the shoulder, riding the hunting dogs held firmly with one hand by the collar, the other hand carrying a flaming torch.

Verrines in cut crystal.

Hallmarks :
• "2e coq 1er titre" (French mark for solid silver 950/1000 between 1809 and 1819).
• "Moyenne Garantie de Paris" à la "Tête de guerrier casqué tournée vers la droite".
• Greyhound head.
• Association des Orfèvres with the letter P on the left.
• "Vieillard 1er titre".
• Grosse Garantie de Paris : "Tête de Cérès tournée vers la gauche".
• Silversmith mark for Dominique GARREAU.

Very good conditions.


As is frequently the case with the goldsmith's work of the Restoration period, we are dealing with an Empire model, whose ornamental repertoire is taken over and slightly modified.
The finesse of the carving and the delicacy of the drawings make it a very fine example of goldsmithery of the first half of the 19th century.


Concerning the symbolism of the ornamental repertoire of this goldsmith's piece, it should be noted that the dog's fidelity to man has made this animal a traditional symbol of fidelity and vigilance. He is often depicted in wedding paintings or portraits to symbolize conjugal fidelity, such as Jan VAN EYCK's ARNOLFINI Portrait [1], the "Family portrait" by Lorenzo LOTTO [2], or the "Happy Union" by VERONESE [3].
EROS, symbol of love, straddling the dog, symbol of fidelity, held by the necklace, symbol of commitment, is the symbol of love guided by faithfulness-faith commitment. In VERONESE's Wedding Feast at Cana, the two dogs represented under the table of Christ united on the same leash are thus interpreted as an allegory of marriage and fidelity.

[1] 1434, London, National Gallery.
[2] 1523-1524, St. Petersburg, Hermitage Museum.
[3] About 1575, London, National Gallery.