French maker "RLD"

[chamberlin]

I have a silver teapot, made in Paris, with the symbol for 95% purity both on the lid and to the right of the wooden handle. I know the teapot was made in Paris between 1819 - 1838. On the bottom is a diamond shaped mark with the initials "RLD". The "R" is by the left corner, the "L" is to the right, and the "D" is below. I have searched a lot to discover who the maker is, but with no result. I assume it was rather obscure craftsman who made it as the initials do not readily show up in my searches. I appreciate any help.

[dognose]

Hi,

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[chamberlin]

Here are the two images requested - I hope I have done this correctly. Any information regarding the maker, the style or even the wooden handle would be greatly appreciated.

[JayT]

You show nice clear images of a hot water jug or coffee pot (depending on the height) in the neoclassical style. I believe the mongram in gothic letters is a later addition. Unable to tell whether the handle is original or a replacement.

The maker of your item is Roch-Louis Dany, hollowware maker in Paris working at 46 or 49 Quai des Orfevres. (Sources differ). Dany was a fourth generation silversmith who won a grand prize at the Ecole de Dessin on 19 May 1779. He first registered his mark in pre-Revolutionary times on 9 June 1779.

The mark on your item, RLD with a cube as a symbol, was registered after the Revolution in 1798-1799. No end date is given, but there is mention of him in the Amanach Azur until 1820.

See Nocq, v. 2, pp. 8-9.
Arminjon, v. 1, no. 03160, p. 310.

Hope this helps.

[chamberlin]

Thank you very much, JayT ! Your information is truly interesting for my family and me. I have now been able to find various articles from Dany Roch-Louis on many websites - often in auctions. It is interesting that an almost identical jug was in an auction several years ago, except it had is standing on 3 legs.

1. You state that "there is mention of him in the Amanach Azur until 1820" - can I assume that he died in 1820, or that he ceased to work in that year? I could not find any mention of his year of birth nor death. From the dates you mention, I assume he would have been about 60-63 years old in 1820. If so, then I could definitely date the jug 1819-1820.

This perfectly fits the timeframe since it is from my wife's great great grandmother, originally from Paris. She married a Swiss artist in the winter of 1821 at the age of 18. His initials were "LB" - thus the monogram in gothic letters (the same monogram used on some other articles in the family). While it is possible that the monogram was added later, it surely would have been by about 1830.

2. It seems that Dany had another maker's mark, though similar, prior to 1798-1799. I even saw a foto of it as I searched for more information. Was it common for silversmiths to change their mark during their career? Do you know what could be the reason for that?

3. The jug is 21cm high. Would that indicate a hot water jug or a coffee pot ?

Thank you so much for your help and useful information.

[JayT]

My pleasure to help your family explore their heritage. It is wonderful to have good provenance for your jug.
1) The Almanach Azur is a trade journal. As there is no mention of Dany in this publication after 1820, you can assume he was no longer active after that date. However there is no record of his mark being struck off the register at any time. Your assumption that your jug was made 1819-1820 seems logical. I'm sure genealogical research would yield Dany's birth and death dates.
Gothic lettering was uncommon for monograms in France until the mid-nineteenth century. Nevertheless a Swiss national might well have ordered a monogram in this font which was more common in Germanic countries.
2) Yes, Dany's original mark was different prior to the Revolution. At the time of the Revolution all makers who decided to continue their trade had to register a new mark punched in a lozenge-shaped reserve. You have the work of a maker who was from four generations of silversmiths and who trained in the old school: apprenticeship, journeyman, then master. Therefore his work shows the skill and quality of someone from the old system. Don't forget the Revolution abolished the guilds, and quality in all trades suffered in consequence in the immediate aftermath.
3) I believe your object is a hot water jug, but it could be a single- serving coffee pot. It is definitely not a tea-pot.

[chamberlin]

Thank you, JayT. It all makes sense and some of the pieces of this puzzle have come together thanks to your explanations.
If you are in Basel between mid-April and mid-October the silver jug will be on display at an exhibition at the Spielzeug Museum in the center of the city. The exhibition shows many of the gouache paintings of the artist Louis Bleuler, with a section dedicated to many of his private items as well - including this silver jug.

thanks again for all of your help!

[JayT]

Thank you for your kind invitation to view the exhibit in Basel. Good of your family to share this silver with a wider public.