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| Jean-Valentin Morel Silver Vase Shaped Sugar Basin - Morel Et Cie Londres
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Reference: S11355
Period: Victorian
Year: 1851
Silversmith: Jean-Valentin Morel
Place: London
Price: $ 2 900.00
Weight: 467 grams
Dimensions: 11 cm height, 11.5 cm diameter
Condition: Vey good, one small dent to exterior and another small dent to interior.
Description: A fabulous sterling silver sugar basin, in the shape of a vase, made by the highly regarded French silversmith Jean-Valentin Morel, made during the brief period he was based in London. The sugar basin is octagonal in shape, with 8 curvilinear sides, 6 smaller panels on the sides and 2 larger panels on the front and back. the basin sits on a raised foot in the same shape, the basin also has bands on the top, base and three quarters way up. the end and side panels are also finely engraved with an architectural shield with scrolls flowers and foliage. The interior is gilded with original gilding, and overall the quality is excellent, Morel was certainly a master craftsman. The foot of the basin is engraved on the exterior "MOREL & Cie a LONDRES", it is quite unusual to see English silver branded in this way, especially on the exterior. The hallmarks are excellent, including makers mark J.V.M for Jean- Valentin Morel. "Jean-Valentin Morel (1794-1860) was born in Paris, the son of a lapidary. He began his career under the eye of his father but soon moved to the workshop of Adrien-Jean-Maximilien Vachette (1753-1839), the master gold box maker. Going into business on his own account in 1827, Morel in 1842 formed a partnership with Charles-Edmnd Duponchel (1794-1868), a director of the Paris Opera. With this injection of capital, Morel was able to expand his enterprise and is said at this time to have employed some eighty craftsmen, including lapidaries, enamellers and goldsmiths. The liason ended unhappily in a lawsuit during 1848 after which Morel was obliged to quit the Department of the Seine, the centre of the luxury goods trade in the French capital. Thereafter, Morel, his family and some workmen decamped to London where, in partnership with Edmond-Joly de Bommeville (1787-1870) he set up as J.V. Morel & Co. at 7 New Burlington Street near Old Bond Street. In spite of Morel’s immense critical success at the Great Exhibition of 1851, however, the business failed and the partners went their separate ways. Morel returned to France, where he settled at Sèvres. At what proved to be probably his last appearance on the international stage, his skills and invention undiminished, he unveiled his astonishing ‘Hope Vase’ to great acclaim at the Paris Exposition of 1855. He died five years later, much to the distress of his many creditors." - source Wikipedia. The book "The Great Exhibition 1851" dedicated to Prince Albert, devotes 2 whole pages to Morel, stating "his works are equally deserving of high praise, as well for design as for execution, and display great and varied fancy combined with the highest artistic finish" Morel was awarded a council medal at the Great Exhibition, he was also granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria. In 1855 he was awarded Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by Napoleon III. Note -A silver sweetmeat dish, made by Morel in London 1849, formed as a nautilus cup, was purchased by the Victoria & Albert museum from Christies in 1968.
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Jean-Valentin Morel Silver Vase Shaped Sugar Basin - Morel Et Cie Londres
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Morel Silver Vase Shaped Sugar Basin
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Morel Et Cie Londres silver sugar basin side view
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Gilded interior silver sugar bowl, Morel
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Jean-Valentin Morel London 1851 silver hallmarks
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Morel silver sugar bowl scale
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Morel Et Cie Londres
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