A Louis XV French silver oil and vinegar cruet, Paris 1752, by Jacques Besnier for Nicholas Besnier (1686–1754, reg. 6th Feb 1717)

Of shaped-oval navette form, with scroll reeded rims, fitted with two bottle holders and a central lid holder. The clear faceted glass bottles with detachable moulded domed lids surmounted by knop finials. Engraved to the side with a coat of arms within a scroll cartouche below a Count’s coronet. Marked underneath and to detachable galleries with the date letter L (reg. 22nd Jan 1752), the charge and discharge mark of Julien Berthe (reg. 1st Oct 1750), the lids unmarked.

Length – 24.5 cm / 9.6 inches

Weight of silver – 851 grams / 27.3 ozt

Nicolas Besnier (1686-1754) was the son of François Besnier, head of the king's goblet, and Henriette Delaunay, niece of Nicolas Delaunay. From 1709 to 1712, Besnier worked in Rome at the Villa Medicis where he trained as an architect, winning a prize in 1711. He returned to Paris the following year to complete his training. He registered his goldsmith's mark in 1714, moving into his wife's uncle's workshop at the Galerie du Louvre. In 1723, he was appointed Royal goldsmith and worked for the Court and for the Foreign office providing ambassadorial plate, as well as working for a rich international clientele. In 1729 he became alderman collaborating with his son-in-law Jacques Roëttiers de La Tour, finally leaving him his workshop when he became director of the Beauvais Tapestry Manufacture from 1734 to 1753.

Bensier’s most prolific surviving work are the elements of the Duchess of Modena’s toilet service of 1719 attributed to him, eight elements of which were sold to the Louvre, Christie’s Paris 27 Nov 2019 (€3,535,000 incl. premium)

A pair of candlesticks of 1748 by Besnier were sold Sotheby’s Paris, 10 April 2008, Lot 116 (€7,450 incl. premium) A chocolatier of 1731 by Besnier was sold Sotheby’s Paris, 28 March 2007, lot 259 (€3,360 incl. premium)