A Louis XV mid-18th century French provincial silver candlestick, Arras 1756-57, by Philippe Joncqué (1727-1799, reg. 1752)

A Louis XV mid-18th century French provincial silver candlestick, Arras 1756-57, by Philippe Joncqué (1727-1799, reg. 1752)

Of octagonal form with a stepped base, the column with tapering knops and octagonal capital. Engraved underneath with initials "L"C". Marked to the base edge and interior with date letter crowned C, 959 standard.

Height – 22 cm / 8.6 inches

Weight – 444 grams / 14.3 ozt

Flambeau en argent, France, épogue Louis XV, ville de province, Arras 1756-57, par Philippe Joncqué (insc. 1752)

For an almost identical pair by Joncqué sold Christie’s South Kensington, 1 Dec 2015, Lot 70 (£2,250 incl. premium)

Philippe Joncqué did his apprenticeship in his father’s [Pierre François Joncqué (1690-1763)] workshop but his apprenticeship certificate was not registered, in accordance with the regulations. The jurors also reproached him for having done his apprenticeship at the same time as Bruno Guerio, who had been hired in 1747, without respecting the regulations which required him to wait two more years; in fact, the community doubted the reality of Philippe's apprenticeship, who on 9 February 1751 sent a "summons... to the jurors to indicate a masterpiece to him in order to achieve mastery". When they refused, he sent his request to the Lille Mint on 13 February, which gave him a mouth spoon as a masterpiece; this difficult piece was made in front of a goldsmith from Lille and on his certificate, Joncqué was accepted on 27 February [1751] to practice goldsmithing in the city of Arras". But between the delivery of the masterpiece and the reception, the Mint of Lille, on February 16, 1751, declared that any reception of goldsmiths for the said city of Arras would be suspended until the Court had fixed the number." (A.D. ARRAS Coll. Laroche. Memorandum against Mr. Joncqué. Impr. Knapen. Pont-St-Michel 1752). The Arras jurors refused "to engrave his name and to inscribe his punch before the registration of the regulations. When the latter arrived, on August 16, 1751, the new argument for refusing Philippe, was the number... full of goldsmiths in Arras." On the advice of the Paris Mint Court, he summoned the community, which, meeting in general assembly, declared by a decree "the reception of the said Joncqué null and void and ordered... that he would be received in the Court, master goldsmith... by making a masterpiece in the customary manner". For the second time, Philippe Joncqué executed his masterpiece, but this time "in the presence of two goldsmiths from this city of Paris... Jean-Baptiste Odiot and Alexis Loir, master goldsmiths, who presented the masterpiece... and that they certified it well and duly made and perfect". On March 21, 1752, he took the oath and underwent questioning on the alloys. As he had already paid his deposit of 10 mares of silver in Lille, he presented his guarantor to the Court, Nicolas Michelin, merchant-dealer in Paris, residing on rue Charlot, parish of St-Nicolas-des-Champs. On the following 27th of March, he presented to the Court two punches, one large and one small... the said two punches represent the letters P.I. the crowned fleur-de-lys, for motto a flower". (A.N. ZIB 660), Philippe opened a shop, on the rue des Grands Viéziers, at no. 6.” Cartier, N., (1983) L'orfevrerie de la Jurande d'Arras, p. 261-62