Estimate

30.000 - 50.000

Session 2

14 December 2016

Hammer Price

Description

For the marriage of Philippe, Duc d'Orleans with Maria Dorothea, Archduchess of Austria, in 1896
French silver representing allegory (Liberation of France (?)), with one masculine figure handing a sword to a feminine figure that holds a guidon and stands on spoils of war flanked by Olive and Oak branches
At the back a pot with cover bears to inscriptions: "Février 1890" and "La Poule au Pot/ 5.Nov.1896"
Base on four canon ball feet, front with French Royal coat-of-arms and back with an Oak crown
Tête de Minerve 1st standard and Tête de Mercure assay marks (1838-1972) and André Aucoc maker's mark (1887-1911)
Signed at the base by the sculptor, R. Rozet - René Rozet (1858-1939) - and by the silversmith, André Aucoc
(wear signs, sword with small defect)

50x37x42 cm
11376 g

Category

Silver

Additional Information

Philippe d'Orleans (1869-1926) was Duc d'Orleans and heir to the French Crown. He was the eldest son of the Comtes de Paris and brother to Queen Amelia of Portugal (1865-1951), he devoted his life to the monarquic cause of France.
On completing 21 years - in February 1890 - ostensibly broke the law of exile that prohibited members of the royal family to enter in France, and presented himself in Paris in order to perform the military service required by law.
This episode became famous and is celebrated by the inscription "Février 1890" on the piece now offered for sale. The other curious inscription "la Poule au Pot/ 5.Nov.1896" is a clear reference to the Bourbon dynasty of which the Orleans are the heirs. Henry IV (1530-1610), King of France and Navarre was the first of this dynasty to rule France and, in 1600, said that he didn't want any peasant so poor in his kingdom that cannot afford to have a Poule au Pot every Sunday. The famous French recipe became symbol of the dynasty of which Philippe d'Orleans was youngest representative at the date of his marriage - 5th November 1896.
For sure offered to celebrate this marriage this remarkable sculpture was made by one the most important Belle-Époque silversmiths, André Aucoc, recognized genius responsible for several important commissions of the late 19th, early 20th century.
João Júlio Teixeira, GD