A Louis XVI late 18^th century French provincial silver second course dish, Besançon circa 1775 by Jean-Félix Charmet (1742-1803, master 1770)

Of shaped circular form with a moulded rim, the broad edge engraved with an impaled coat of arms between supporters surmounted by a count’s coronet. Marked to the reverse edge with town mark of crossed C’s, date letter Y and maker’s mark FC above the town arms.

Diameter – 29.5 cm / 11.7 inches

Weight – 747 grams / 24.02pozt

A former free city following it’s conquest in 1674 by the troops of Louis XIV, Besançon became the capital of Franche-Comté. In 1703 Besançon supported twenty-two master goldsmiths however by the time of revolution this had dropped to under ten.

Further reading: Solange Brault-Lerch. Les orfèvres de Franche-Comté et de la principauté de Montbéliard du Moyen Age au XIXe siècle. Genève, Droz, 1976.

Plat creux épogue Louis XVI, ville de province, Besançon vers 1775 attribué à Jean-Félix Charmet (1742-1803, maître 1770)