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Silver Gilt Tea Fountain by Odiot

$88,500
£67,099.86
€78,335.94
CA$126,546.35
A$128,497.45
CHF 73,353.22
MX$1,552,672.71
NOK 861,653.24
SEK 859,302.34
DKK 585,623.83

About the Item

Silver-Gilt Tea Foundation Maison Odiot Late 19th century Few silversmiths in history rival the prestige of Maison Odiot, and this monumental silver-gilt tea fountain stands among the most ambitious works ever produced by the legendary Parisian firm. Created in the late 19th century, this exceptional fontaine à thé represents the pinnacle of Odiot’s naturalistic production—so rare and important that closely related examples are held today in the Louvre and the Rijksmuseum, with another variant in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Executed entirely in sumptuous vermeil, the surface is alive with exquisitely chased foliage in high relief. Flowing branches entwine organically to form both the dramatic arched handle above and the sculptural framework below, transforming the functional object into a tour de force of sculptural design. Every element reflects a reverence for nature rendered through extraordinary technical mastery, a hallmark of Odiot’s most elite commissions. The masterpiece is accompanied by its Mark Willis & Son electroplate burner. The model, known in Odiot’s archives as the feuillages (foliage) pattern, was the most elaborate work within a grand botanical service. Original drawings preserved in the firm’s design albums confirm its status as the centerpiece of the ensemble. An identical example once adorned the House of Savoy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, while Odiot himself retained another, which he exhibited at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris and which was later documented by Henri Bouilhet in his definitive study of French silversmithing. Founded in the late 17th century, Maison Odiot rose to international renown as silversmith to Napoleon Bonaparte and King Louis XVIII. The firm’s creations defined imperial luxury, uniting flawless craftsmanship with inventive design. Objects of this complexity, provenance, and institutional importance are extraordinarily rare, making this tea fountain a museum-caliber survival of France’s golden age of silver. 20 1/2" high x 7 1/2" wide x 9" deep
  • Creator:
    Odiot (Metalworker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Width: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)Depth: 9 in (22.86 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Late 19th Century
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    New Orleans, LA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 32-16641stDibs: LU891148144032

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