Odiot Antique French Louis XVI Sterling Silver Flatware Set
Direct from Paris:
A magnificent antique French Louis XVI
sterling silver flatware set by two of France’s premier silversmiths “Odiot” and
“Puiforcat”, a service for 24 with extra dinner knives and dinner forks plus
Mother-of-Pearl handled dessert and cheese knives by Gustave Keller – circa late
1800s. The House of Odiot represents one
of the most significant chapters in the history of French decorative arts,
embodying the pinnacle of silversmithing excellence from the Ancien Régime
through the Second Empire. For nearly two centuries, this illustrious firm set
the standard for luxury silverware, creating pieces that were as much works of
art as they were functional tableware. The Odiot workshop became synonymous with
the highest levels of craftsmanship, attracting royal patrons across Europe and
establishing design conventions that would influence generations of
silversmiths.
The Early Years:
The Odiot dynasty began modestly in 1690 when
Jean-Baptiste Gaspard Odiot established a small silversmith workshop in Paris.
However, it was under his grandson, Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot (1763-1850), that
the firm achieved its legendary status. The younger Odiot came of age during one
of the most dynamic periods in French decorative arts, training under master
goldsmiths during the final years of Louis XVI's reign and establishing his own
workshop just as the Empire style was emerging under Napoleon.
Odiot's workshop became renowned for its technical innovations in silver
production. While most contemporary silversmiths used the standard 925 sterling
silver (92.5% pure silver), Odiot consistently worked with a richer 950-grade
alloy (95% pure silver). This formulation, while more challenging to work with
due to silver's natural softness, produced items with superior luminosity and
resonance. The remaining 5% of alloy typically included trace amounts of
platinum or palladium, which enhanced durability without compromising the
metal's radiant white sheen. Metallurgical analysis of surviving pieces reveals
this unique composition contributed significantly to both the visual appeal and
longevity of Odiot's works.
Unparalleled Craftmanship:
The firm maintained an almost monastic
devotion to traditional techniques even as industrialization transformed
manufacturing. A typical Odiot flatware piece underwent more than thirty
separate production stages, each performed by specialized craftsmen. The
repoussé work was particularly exceptional - master chasers could spend weeks
raising a single intricate design from the reverse side of a silver sheet using
nothing but small, specialized hammers. This painstaking process created
bas-relief decorations with extraordinary depth and dimensionality that
machine-stamping could never replicate.
Odiot's Louis XVI-style pieces, like this amazing set, displayed several
signature characteristics: flawless weight distribution achieved through precise
metal thickness calculations; seamless joins invisible to the naked eye; and
surfaces that caught light with particular brilliance due to their specialized
polishing techniques. The firm implemented rigorous quality control measures,
with pieces rejected for imperfections that other workshops would have deemed
acceptable. Surviving workshop records indicate that only about 60% of completed
pieces met Odiot's exacting standards, with the remainder being melted down for
reuse.
Awards and Accolades:
Odiot's preeminence in the field received
official recognition through an extraordinary array of international awards and
honors spanning nearly a century. The firm's exhibition strategy focused on
quality over quantity, presenting carefully curated selections at world's fairs
where their pieces could be appreciated as both decorative arts and technical
achievements. Their breakthrough
came at the 1806 Industrial Exhibition in Paris, where a monumental neoclassical
centerpiece featuring allegorical figures of the arts and sciences earned Odiot
his first gold medal. The judging committee particularly praised the piece's
harmonious proportions and the virtuosic handling of different texturing
techniques within a single work. This triumph established Odiot as a firm
capable of competing with historic giants like Roettiers and Auguste.
The Restoration period brought even greater recognition. In 1819, Charles X
awarded Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot the prestigious title of Fournisseur Breveté
du Roi (Official Supplier to the King), an honor that included the right to
incorporate royal insignia into the firm's marks. This distinction proved
invaluable commercially, as it effectively certified Odiot's standing to
international clients. Odiot's most
spectacular exhibition success came at the 1855 Paris Exposition Universelle,
where they displayed a complete dining service commissioned by Emperor Napoleon
III for the Tuileries Palace. The service's pièce de résistance was a massive
surtout de table (centerpiece) featuring swan-form vessels supported by
sculptural nymphs, all executed in 950-silver with partial gilding. The jury
awarded Odiot the highest honor, the Médaille d'Honneur, with particular praise
for the technical achievement of casting such large silver elements without
flaws. Contemporary press accounts noted that visitors stood in long queues just
to view Odiot's display.
These accolades translated directly into commercial success. Price lists from
the 1840s show Odiot's flatware commanding premiums of 30-40% over competitors'
similar patterns. The firm's showrooms in Paris, London and St. Petersburg
maintained waiting lists for special commissions, and their exhibition pieces
often sold immediately after judging concluded. Perhaps most significantly, this
recognition afforded Odiot access to the most skilled craftsmen, as apprentices
coveted positions in the award-winning workshop.
Royal and Aristocratic Patronage:
Odiot's reputation for excellence naturally
attracted Europe's most discerning patrons. The firm enjoyed particularly close
relationships with French royalty across successive regimes, a remarkable feat
given the country's turbulent political changes between 1789 and 1870. This
ability to maintain prestige across royal dynasties testified to Odiot's
unparalleled craftsmanship and discreet diplomacy.
The firm's first major royal commission came in 1789, when Louis XVI
ordered a traveling necessaire (toilet service) for Marie Antoinette. Though the
revolution interrupted this commission, archival records show the nearly
completed service included over 70 pieces, each bearing the queen's cipher in
delicate floral surrounds. Remarkably, Odiot managed to preserve the unfinished
pieces through the revolutionary period and later completed them for export to
the Russian court.
Napoleon Bonaparte became one of Odiot's most important patrons. The 1804
Service des Écuries Impériales (Imperial Stables Service) comprised over 1,200
pieces of 950 silver tableware for use in imperial residences. The designs
blended Empire-style motifs (laurel wreaths, imperial eagles) with functional
innovations like detachable handles for traveling pieces. Napoleon's meticulous
nature extended to his silverware - correspondence shows he personally approved
designs and requested modifications to ensure perfect balance in the flatware.
The Bourbon Restoration brought new opportunities. Louis XVIII
commissioned a massive surtout de table depicting scenes from classical
mythology, while Charles X ordered complete dining services for the Château de
Saint-Cloud. Odiot's account books reveal these royal commissions often took 3-5
years to complete and employed up to a third of the workshop's artisans
exclusively.
International royalty also sought Odiot's work. Tsar Alexander I of Russia
purchased an entire 300-piece flatware service in 1807, while King George IV of
England acquired numerous Odiot pieces through his French dealers. The firm's
ability to adapt designs to suit different royal tastes - more ornate for
Russian clients, more restrained for English patrons - demonstrated remarkable
versatility. Perhaps Odiot's most
historically significant commission was the 1825 "Congress Service" created for
the Duc de Richelieu to commemorate the Congress of Vienna. This diplomatic gift
set included 24 place settings with handles depicting allegorical figures of
Peace in different national styles, a masterpiece of political symbolism in
silver.
Odiot’s 950 Sterling Louis XVI Flatware Sets:
Among Odiot's diverse production, their Louis
XVI-style flatware in 950 sterling silver represents the firm's most enduring
legacy. These sets, produced primarily between 1815 and 1850, embodied the
perfect synthesis of aesthetic refinement and practical functionality that
defined Odiot's golden age. The
"Service aux Lauriers" (Laurel Service) of 1822 exemplifies Odiot's approach.
Each piece featured handles wrapped in exquisitely chased laurel branches, a
symbol of victory and prestige. The design required perfect symmetry in the
foliate motifs, achieved through a proprietary technique where craftsmen worked
from both sides simultaneously to ensure identical relief on each face. The
tines of forks tapered elegantly from base to tip, while spoon bowls had subtly
convex profiles that followed the natural motion of eating.
Odiot's flatware sets were notable for their comprehensive scope. A complete
service might include up to 160 distinct pieces, ranging from standard table
forks to specialized items like cheese scoops and citrus knives. Each maintained
perfect stylistic continuity while being ergonomically optimized for its
specific function. The firm's fish servers, for instance, had blade edges
precisely angled for separating flesh from bone, while their butter knives
incorporated slight curvatures to follow the contour of porcelain dishes.
The manufacturing process reflected Odiot's exacting standards. Silver ingots
were hand-poured and rolled to precise thicknesses, with each blank individually
inspected for crystalline consistency. Stamping occurred in hydraulic presses
adjusted to specific tonnages for different pieces - greater pressure for sturdy
soup spoons, lighter touches for delicate butter spreaders. After forming,
pieces underwent hand-finishing where craftsmen perfected joins and smoothed
edges using traditional burnishing stones.
Quality control was exceptionally rigorous. Each completed piece was
examined under magnification for stress fractures, weighed to ensure proper
metal distribution, and tested for balance by placing across a fulcrum. Only
items passing all inspections received the firm's full hallmarks - not just the
legally required purity marks, but also subtle artisan codes that identified the
individual craftsmen responsible. This system created both accountability and
pride among workers, with master smiths competing to have their personal marks
grace the finest pieces.
Today, complete Odiot Louis XVI flatware services rank among the most valuable
antiques in the silver market and are valued exhibits at international museums
including the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Contemporary
silversmiths still study Odiot's work, particularly their innovations in weight
distribution and tactile ergonomics that modern manufacturers struggle to
replicate.
The Odiot Legacy:
The Odiot firm's legacy represents the
highest achievement of French silversmithing, a perfect marriage of artistic
vision and technical mastery that has never been surpassed. From their
revolutionary use of 950 sterling silver to their definitive interpretations of
Louis XVI design principles, Odiot established standards of excellence that
continue to resonate nearly two centuries later.
What makes Odiot's work truly remarkable is its dual nature - these were
objects meant to be both admired and used. The flawless weight distribution of a
fork, the precise curve of a spoon bowl, the satisfying heft of a knife - these
were not accidents but the result of generations of accumulated knowledge. In an
age of mass production, Odiot's pieces remind us of the human artistry behind
true luxury.
As we reassess the decorative arts of the 19th century, Odiot's reputation only
grows brighter. Their flatware services, still functional and beautiful after
nearly 200 years, stand as enduring testaments to French craftsmanship at its
finest. For collectors, historians, and lovers of fine silver, Odiot remains the
gold standard - or more accurately, the 950 silver standard - by which all other
work is judged. This amazing 261 piece
flatware set is a stunning example of the quality and craftsmanship for which
the firm was internationally known.
Each of the main sterling silver flatware pieces bears the French government’s
head of the Minerva 1 hallmark, certifying a minimum of 950 sterling silver. The
Mother-of-Pearl handled dessert and cheese knives bear the Gustave Keller
manufacturer’s hallmark and the knife blade rests are by Puiforcat, currently
owned by Hermes. The set includes
the following (all weights and measures approximate):
24
Dinner Knives - Stainless Blades
27.00 cm.
98 grams
11
Extra Dinner Knives - Stainless Blades
27.00 cm.
98 grams
24
Dinner Forks 21.70 cm.
109 grams
18
Extra Dinner Forks
21.70 cm.
109 grams
23
Tablespoons 22.50 cm.
99
grams
17
Luncheon Knives - Stainless Blades
20.70 cm.
55 grams
17
Luncheon / Dessert Forks
18.80 cm.
60 grams
18
Luncheon / Dessert Spoons
19.20 cm.
63 grams
16
Dessert Knives - Sterling Blades
20.70 cm.
55 grams
24
Cheese Knives - Mother of Pearl Handles
20.00 cm.
38 grams
24
Dessert Knives - Mother of Pearl Handles & Sterling Blades 20.00 cm.
41 grams
18
Ice Cream Spoons
14.80 cm.
30 grams
12
Knife Blade Rests - Sterling (Puiforcat)
8.00 cm.
40 grams
4
Salt Cellars
10.00 cm.
94 grams
1
Large Salad Serving Fork
- Vermeil Prongs
27.50 cm.
121 grams
1
Large Salad Serving
Spoon - Vermeil Bowl
27.50 cm.
131 grams
1
Large Fish Serving Fork
- Sterling Prongs
27.00 cm.
206 grams
1
Large Fish Serving Knife
- Sterling Blade
31.80 cm.
214 grams
1
Serving Spoon
20.70 cm. 102 grams
1
Berry Serving Spoon
21.00 cm.
94 grams
1
Ice Cream / Custard
Serving Scoop 21.50 cm.
114
grams
1
Butter Serving Knife -
Mother of Pearl Handle
19.50 cm.
47 grams
1
Sauce Serving Ladle
21.00 cm.
121 grams
1
Large Set of Asparagus
Serving Tongs 28.50 cm.
328
grams
1
Dessert Serving Syce -
Sterling Blade 20.00 cm.
78
grams
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