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Casket
Marked by: Nicolas Besnier (master 1714, died 1754)
French (Paris)
1714–15
Object Place: Europe, Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Metal; silver
Dimensions
Overall: 9.2 x 24.7 x 31.2 cm (3 5/8 x 9 3/4 x 12 5/16 in.)
Weight: 3304.4 gm (3.3 kg)
Weight: 3304.4 gm (3.3 kg)
Credit Line
Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. Collection
Accession Number1993.445
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsSilver
DescriptionA large rectangular casket on four paw feet capped with foliage. The bottom rim is molded and followed by a band of guilloche, as is the upper rim of the base. The sides each have an applied circular medallion with a profile head of a woman on a matted ground surrounded by molding. The medallion is flanked by two rectangular panels each incurved on either end with a trellis pattern on a matted ground inside. The panels are in turn flanked by a half rosette surrounded by gadrooning and molding. The cover is hinged and slightly raised in the center, with a guilloche rim and a shaped thumbpiece. The raised central area is surrounded by a band of Greek key patterning interrupted by eight floral motifs, four on the corners. This is followed by a band of molding surrounding a central oval plaque with a raised scene depicting a landscape with two women and many birds. The plaque is surrounded by four panels with a trellis patternon a matted ground and four large and six small rosettes.
Marks
Maker's Mark: a crowned fleur-de-lis, two grains, NB, a star (Dennis, 54). Warden's Mark: 1714-1715: a crowned X (Dennis, 100). Charge mark: 1712-1717: an A on an inverted crown (Dennis, 100). Discharge mark: 1712-1717: Crowned inverted L's (Dennis, 178). The Maker's, Warden's, and Charge marks are found on the underside of the base. The Discharge mark is on the interior of the base.
ProvenanceBy 1918, Marcel Poulet, Versailles. 1961, sold at Sotheby & Co., London [see note 1] to S.J. Phillips, London [see note 2]; 1961, sold to Elizabeth Parke Firestone (b. 1897 - d. 1990) and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. (b. 1898 - d. 1973), Akron, OH and Newport, RI; 1993 [see note 3]; gift of the estate of Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., to the MFA. (Accession Date: May 26, 1993)
NOTES:
[1] Sold at Sotheby & Co., London, April 13, 1961, lot 50.
[2] See note in file
[3] Sold to S.J. Phillips, London, April 24, 1961.
NOTES:
[1] Sold at Sotheby & Co., London, April 13, 1961, lot 50.
[2] See note in file
[3] Sold to S.J. Phillips, London, April 24, 1961.