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Sauceboat with Liner and Stand
Marked by: François-Thomas Germain (French, 1726–1791)
French (Paris)
1756–59
Object Place: Europe, Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Silver
Dimensions
Overall (overall): 14.8 x 38.8 x 23.2 cm, 3193.6 gm (5 13/16 x 15 1/4 x 9 1/8 in.)
Other (sauceboat): 12.2 x 23.6 x 11.7 cm (4 13/16 x 9 5/16 x 4 5/8 in.)
Other (stand): 6.2 x 38.8 x 23.2 cm (2 7/16 x 15 1/4 x 9 1/8 in.)
Other (liner): 6.6 x 18.4 x 11.6 cm, 281.2 gm (2 5/8 x 7 1/4 x 4 9/16 in., 0.6 lb.)
Other (sauceboat): 12.2 x 23.6 x 11.7 cm (4 13/16 x 9 5/16 x 4 5/8 in.)
Other (stand): 6.2 x 38.8 x 23.2 cm (2 7/16 x 15 1/4 x 9 1/8 in.)
Other (liner): 6.6 x 18.4 x 11.6 cm, 281.2 gm (2 5/8 x 7 1/4 x 4 9/16 in., 0.6 lb.)
Credit Line
Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. Collection
Accession Number1993.515.1a-b
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsSilver
After an earthquake devastated Lisbon in 1755, King José I ordered replacements for the extensive holdings of royal silver which had been lost. He ordered four new table services; French royal silversmith François-Thomas Germain employed 120 workers to execute the commission for four new table services.
DescriptionOne of a pair of oval sauceboats with a removable liner on a plateau. The liner has a scalloped edge and scroll handles. The bowl is fluted, supported on a rockwork base with handles formed of branches of celery. The plateau has sunburst fluting, scrolled rim and handles, and a later engraved crowned monogram of Pedro the 1st of Brazil.
Marks
Maker's mark for Francois-Thomas Germain: a crowned fleur-de-lys, two grains, FTG, a fleece (Dennis 149): underside of liner, underside of bowl, inside rim of rockwork support, underside of plateau, underside of plateau rim.
Warden's mark for 1756-57, a crowned Q (Dennis 155): inside rim of sauceboat support. 1757-58, a crowned R (Dennis 155): underside of liner. 1758-59, a crowned S (Dennis 157): twice on underside of plateau.
Charge mark for large work, 1756-62 [fermier Eloi Brichard]: a crowned A (Dennis 156): underside of liner, underside of bowl, underside of Plateau. Charge mark for small work, 1756-62: a harrow (Dennis 160): inside rim of rockwork support, underside of plateau rim.
Discharge marks for work intended for export, 1733 (?) - 1775: a little cow (Dennis 156): inside lip of liner, inside of bowl.
Import Marks: from 1893, an ant within a rectangular shield: outside rim of liner, rim of plateau, outside edge of sauceboat. (Rosenberg IV #5907).
Warden's mark for 1756-57, a crowned Q (Dennis 155): inside rim of sauceboat support. 1757-58, a crowned R (Dennis 155): underside of liner. 1758-59, a crowned S (Dennis 157): twice on underside of plateau.
Charge mark for large work, 1756-62 [fermier Eloi Brichard]: a crowned A (Dennis 156): underside of liner, underside of bowl, underside of Plateau. Charge mark for small work, 1756-62: a harrow (Dennis 160): inside rim of rockwork support, underside of plateau rim.
Discharge marks for work intended for export, 1733 (?) - 1775: a little cow (Dennis 156): inside lip of liner, inside of bowl.
Import Marks: from 1893, an ant within a rectangular shield: outside rim of liner, rim of plateau, outside edge of sauceboat. (Rosenberg IV #5907).
InscriptionsInscriptions: Liner: "4" inside rim, "No 7" and "283A" on bottom. Bowl: "4" inside rim, "FAIT PAR F.T. GERMAIN SCULP ORF DU ROY AUX GALLERIES DU LOUVRE A PARIS. 1758." on underside. Support: "No 7" and "No 60-7m" inside rim. Plateau: monogram "P 1o" surmounted by a closed crown, "FAIT PAR F.T.GERMAIN SCULP ORFre DU ROY AUX GALLERIES DU LOUVRE A PARIS" "No 60 13m-1o-1.2 [2 in superscript] "283A" on underside.
Engraved crowned monogram of Pedro the 1st of Brazil
Engraved crowned monogram of Pedro the 1st of Brazil
Provenance1756-1759, made for José I de Bragança (b. 1714 - d. 1777), King of Portugal (original commission); by descent to his great-grandson, Pedro IV de Bragança (b. 1798 - d. 1834), King of Portugal and Emperor of Brazil; by descent to his daughter, Franziska Caroline de Bragança (b. 1824 - d. 1898), Infanta of Portugal and Brazil; by descent to her great-grandson, Henri d'Orléans (b. 1908 - d. 1999), Comte de Paris; possibly sold by the Comte de Paris to Ricardo Espirito Santo Silva (b. 1900 - d. 1955), Lisbon [see note 1]; 1957, sold by his widow, Mary Espirito Santo Silva, through E. Garin, Paris, to Elizabeth Parke Firestone (b. 1897 - d. 1990) and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. (b. 1898 - d. 1973), Akron, OH and Newport, RI; 1993; gift of the estate of Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., to the MFA. (Accession Date: May 26, 1993)
NOTES:
[1] The provenance given here is based on information in Isabel da Silveira Godinho, A Baixela de Sua Majestade Fidelissima (Lisbon, 2002), p. 204.
NOTES:
[1] The provenance given here is based on information in Isabel da Silveira Godinho, A Baixela de Sua Majestade Fidelissima (Lisbon, 2002), p. 204.