Rare magnificent silver with Russian imperial provenance will be offered at Christie’s Paris, to be held on 8 November 2013. The highlight of the sale of decorative arts from the 13th to the 19th centuries entitled “Le gout Francais” (the taste of French) is definitely a soup tureen on stand and a set of four massive candlesticks from the Orloff service. Commissioned in 1770 by Empress Catherine II of Russia from the finest Parisian silversmith of the time, Jacques Röettiers (1707-1784) and his son Jacques-Nicolas Röettiers (1736-1788), the service comprised more than 3,000 pieces. Only a fraction of the service now survives.
It is one of the earliet expressions of the Neo-classical style in silver. Items from this legendary service have occasionally appeared at auction, but it is more than 20 years since such a significant group has been presented to the international market.
Magnificent soup tureen, cover and stand has an estimated price of €1,5 – €2 million ($2 – $2,7 million) and a set of four candlesticks from the service is estimated at €500,000 – €800,000 ($665,000 – $106,000).
“Christie’s is pleased to unveil the previously unpublished collection featuring the finest French silversmiths of the late 18th century. This is the first time that we have presented such a prestigious group of silver in Paris, a group which displays the talents of the silversmiths Roëttiers, Auguste, Delanois, Mongenot and Charles Spriman. This sale promises to be a major event for those who appreciate and admire the finest French silver,” said Marine de Cenival, Senior Specialist, Silver department.
