A Charles X / Louis Phillipe early 19th century French 950 standard silver gilt ewer (aiguière), Paris 1819-38 by Jean Francois Burel (reg. 1817, biff. 5th June 1838)

The body of ovoid form upon a spreading circular foot with a central compressed knop, the everted neck and pouring lip opposite a caryatid handle formed as a mythical woman (Mélusine), with bifurcated mermaid tail and acanthus leaf middle, bare chested with butterfly wings adjoining the body, she is raising a bunch of grapes with both hands, her hair tied back wearing a fruiting vine wreath. The junction between neck with beaded palmette border repeated to the foot section, the upper rim with a moulded rim and the compressed knop with a guilloche border of interlaced rosettes. Marked to the foot and to the junction of handle, also marked with a later Italian control mark of an M in a square punch for Macerata 1860-72.

Height – 33.5 cm / 13.25 inches

Weight – 902 grams / 29 ozt

Sold Christie’s Rome 11 Nov 1999, lot 649 (ITL 3,450,000, approx. £1500)

For a drawing of a ewer with a mermaid handle circa 1775-80 attributed to Robert-Joseph Auguste (1723 - 1805, master 1757) see the Getty Museum 79.GA.180

This design was executed very closely by Alexandre-Camille Lesot La Panneterie 1798-1809, illustrated in an article Edouard de Sevin, L'Estampille, July 1981, No.135. The present lot being a further deviation of this design.