Mark of Jean-Charles Cahier, Paris, First Standard, 1819-1838, the verso struck with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of France, remnants of gold wash to bowl with pointed tip, presented in a Cartier box.

5.75 in.

1.05 troy oz.

This spoon is from a large silver table ware service of 919 pieces commissioned by Napoleon upon his return from exile on the island of Elba. Napoleon did not have a chance to enjoy the service designed by Martin-Guillaume Biennais and Jean-Charles Cahier, as he was forced into permanent exile on the Island of Saint Helena following his defeat at Waterloo.

Louis XVIII honored the commission upon his restoration back to the French throne, instructing that each piece of the service be struck with the royal coat of arms.

Upon Louis' death, the service passed to Henri, Count of Chambord. By the early 1920s the service was owned by Don Jaime de Borbón who sold the service to Cartier in New York. Cartier in turn exhibited the service in 1923 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, as well as museums in Pittsburg and Philadelphia.

This spoon is accompanied by a letter signed by William Allen of Cartier, Inc., dated April 11, 1936, documenting that this spoon is from the Louis XVIII Silver Service. The spoon is presented in the original box with Cartier stamp as originally acquired by the consignor's family in 1936.

Some light scratching.

$300 - 600