1st Standard 950 Silver Fully Hallmarked French Urn Defiant Swans Handles

Description

1st Standard 950 Silver Fully Hallmarked French Urn Defiant Swans Handles
Presented is a very elegant and finely crafted antique urn made by a French silversmith in the very early 1800's, likely in 1819. The 95% silver it is made from is finer than sterling. Defiant swans form the high arching handles and the lid finial. The urn is not one solid piece, there is a lidded cup held within a handled frame on a pedestal base with four paw feet. The mid section of the openwork frame features classical figures representing the seasons of winter (fire) and summer (cornicopia) on both front and back. Below the figures and above the pedestal are lovely acanthus leaf patterns. Fine beading and gadroon patterns add textural interest to the base and lid.
The silver fineness is .950, in accordance with the many hallmarks found on the cup, the base and its cover. You will find the standing hen French first standard mark underneath the base, another standard or title mark, used between 1819-1838 along the outer top edge of the cup rim. There is a provinces guarantee mark in the lid, and  the gross guarantie for the provinces, used between 1809 and 1819 on the side of the base.
The condition of this antique is good. There are no major issues. I would say the most visible flaw is that the circumference of the thin silver cup does not follow the round,  top frame rim perfectly, and so you can see a bit of space between them on one side. Scrutinize photo #2 and you will see this. Also the lid does not marry perfectly to the cup without some pressure being applied, yet is does rest flat. There is one contusion on the side of the cup, (a bit of a depression and a short crack, on the outside surface but not through to the inside) but this mar is easily hidden by positioning it behind a handle or figure in the frame. There are two, 3 mm (small) rim cracks in the cup and one frame rib below a handle bows slightly, as you can see in photo #8. The handles and claw feet are tight and the piece rests solidly on a flat surface.
Dimensions: 9 1/4 inches tall by 6 3/4 inches wide including handles, a 4 1/2 inch diameter bowl
Weight: 1 lb 5.3 oz (605 grams)
Note that to remove the cup lid, because the swan's necks prevent you from lifting it straight up, we recommend that you lift it to clear the cup and frame only slightly and then slip it out to the side, away from the handles.
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