Title: Odiot - 261pc. Antique French 950 Sterling Silver Flatware Set, Louis XVI Model, Service for 24, 15 Svg. Pcs. !Description: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 gramsMaker/Designer: OdiotOrigin:FranceDate/Period:19th CenturySilver Purity:950Size:261 pcs.Hallmarks:Odiot, Minerva 1
Reserve: $45,675.00
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