Nicolas Besnier (1686-1754) was the son of François Besnier - the Chef du gobelet of the French king - and Henriette Delaunay. His uncle was the goldsmith Nicolas Delaunay and his godfather the sculptor Corneille Van Clève. Nicolas Besnier made the journey to Italy between October 1709 to October 1712 to study Architecture at the Académie de France in Rome. There he won the first prize for architecture at the Académie de Saint-Luc in 1711. Besnier became a Master goldsmith in 1714 and held lodgings in the galleries of the Louvre from 1718. A letter of patent dated 1st September 1723 appointed him goldsmith to the king. He worked for the French court, notably in replacing the king’s ordinary dinner service, and in supplying diplomatic requirements, as well as for a number of important patrons including: the comte de Tarroca, the comte de Pontchartrain, the duchesse de Retz, the duchesse d'Harcourt, the maréchal de Castries, the duc de Bouillon, the duc and duchesse de [Read More]

This new and comprehensive book covers a single major collection of caddy spoons from the 18th century to the present day. Well-illustrated with 1000 colour images,  the privately published work includes a foreword and introductions by John Gibbens, Alastair Dickenson, Simon Moore and Anthony Bernbaum.  If you are interested in a copy, please contact the Society of Caddy Spoon Collectors using their website contact form, or Anthony Bernbaum at info@thepeartreecollection.com.  The book is 400 pages long and priced at £55 excluding P&P.

Les Poinçons Français des Métaux Précieux de 1789 à ce Jour. Following the interest aroused by the chapter on hallmarks in his book Traditional French Jewellery (2021) Michael Fieggen has continued his research into this field and has now published a complete guide to all 276 French hallmarks used from 1789 to the present day. The book is illustrated with original drawings, each of which has been checked against the actual hallmarks, and in most cases a photograph of the mark is also included. The dates of the introduction of the marks and when they were withdrawn have also been carefully researched: until now such dates as were published were based on the dates of the hallmarking legislation but archival research has revealed that some marks were not used until later or were withdrawn earlier than was believed. The book contains a list of all the assay office marks included within French hallmarks that facilitate identification of the place of origin of both silverware [Read More]

(International Event) The DIVA Museum (Antwerp) will be hosting a book launch on Friday 1 December for a new publication by the silver specialist, Anne-Marie Claessens-Peré. The book, Antwerp Gold and Silver Marks 1456-1798 (Antwerpse goud- en zilvermerken 1456-1798) is the first systematic overview of city seals, year marks and master marks used in Antwerp between 1456 and 1798. Published in Dutch by the DIVA museum in cooperation with the non-profit Academy for the History of Goldsmith Art in Belgium, the book contains several firsts such as new identifications and the discovery of Antwerp objects dating from the 16th century in foreign institutions. The book will be on sale in the museum shop from 1 December at €59 The speeches during the book launch will be in Dutch, but most attendees also speak English so English speakers are welcome. Programme: 16.00: Doors open 16.15: Welcome Ann Kaethoven, Director ad interim DIVA 16.20: Speech Marc Meeùs, President Academie voor de Geschiedenis van de Edelsmeedkunst in [Read More]

The collection of 18th- and early-19th-century French silverware acquired by Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian between 1900 and 1950 is the most important of its time and one of the most significant sections of the Gulbenkian Museum’s collection. The collection of over 150 pieces constitutes a unique group due to their diversity and quality; it includes several world-class masterpieces representative of Gulbenkian’s taste. The catalogue is dedicated to a selection of works in silver of different typologies, such as centrepieces, tureens, salt cellars, candelabra and candlesticks, made by renowned silversmiths including François- Thomas Germain, Antoine-Sébastien Durant, Robert-Joseph Auguste and Martin-Guillaume Biennais. Despite this diversity these works all share the characteristics that make this collection unique: quality and authenticity combined with original design, technical expertise and distinguished provenance; former owners include members of the European aristocracy and the Russian imperial family. Most of the works were purchased in Paris but there is an important group of works from the Hermitage collection, acquired following negotiations between Calouste Gulbenkian [Read More]

For anyone wishing to add a little silver-related fiction to their reading list, this post features a running list of suggestions. Do get in touch if you have any recommendations or would like to see your novel featured! Argentum by James Leslie-Melville (The Book Guild, 2023) The Silversmith's Daughter by Annie Murray (Pan, 2019) The Silversmith's Wife by Sophia Tobin (Simon & Schuster, 2014)