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Double spice-box
Antoine Filassier (French, master in 1720, died in 1764)
France (Paris)
1723–24
Object Place: Europe, Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Metal; silver
Dimensions
6.7 x 7.7 x 11.8 cm (2 5/8 x 3 1/16 x 4 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. Collection
Accession Number1993.299.1a-b
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsSilver
DescriptionOne of a pair of double spice-boxes. Of elongated octagonal form with a molded baluster shaped body. It rests on four applied scroll feet with the upper part of each formed as a shell, each chased with a pattern. The interior is divided into three compartments with two hinged covers, and a central compartment for a nutmeg grater. Each hinged cover has a gadrooned rim followed by molding and an engraved crest. The cover of the central compartment has a gadrooned rim and a domed molded center with a ball finial resting on gadrooning.
Marks
Maker's Mark: a crowned fleur-de-lis, two grains, AF, a narcissus (Dennis, 139). Warden's Mark: 1723-1724: a crowned G (Dennis, 56). Charge mark: 1722-1727: a crowned A with interlaced L's (Dennis, 56). Discharge mark: for work made in a single piece, 1722-1727: a rayed sun (Dennis, 238). Other: Countermark for 1727-1732: a crowned bell (Dennis, 205); Countermark 1732-1738: a crowned shell (Dennis, 205); Countermark, 1738-1744: a lizard (Dennis, 205); an unidentified mark shaped like a hammer (?); a crown. The Maker's mark is on all feet and the undersides of the lids, the Warden's and Charge marks are on the underside of the base, while the discharge and the countermarks and the hammer(?) are on the bottom of the interior and the crown is on the rim.
Inscriptionscoat of arms (d'azur, with lion climbing on a silver rock) of the de Bonlieu family of Viviers, in Languedoc.
Provenance1875, Paul Eudel, Paris; 1928, Comtesse de Behague, Paris. Elizabeth Parke Firestone (1897-1990) and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. (1898-1973), Akron, OH and Newport, RI; 1993; gift of the Estate of Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. to the MFA.