A large Belle-Époque jardinière with plateau, GUILHERME SOARES

Estimate €2.200–3.200

Description

Portuguese silver (833/000). Raised, pierced and chiselled decoration in the rocaille taste, of fine quality.

Shaped plateau resting on four feet, cartouches at the centre and ends with two scroll handles and foliage, mirrored base with bevelled glass. Flower holder with profuse decoration of cartouches, scrolls, flowers, shells, leaves and architectural friezes, at the ends with two chased handles. Interior with gilt copper liner.

Porto hallmark in use from 1887 to 1937 and goldsmith's mark of Guilherme Soares (reg. 1887).

(signs of use)

L.: 67 cm (flower pot holder); 73.5 cm (plateau)

2,032 g (silver of the flower vase only)

Text

Guilherme Soares was one of the most extraordinary goldsmiths of Porto in the late nineteenth century. If the quality of execution of his works is consummate, the refinement and innovation of the designs of his pieces elevate him to an artistic level superior to the great majority of his contemporary Portuguese goldsmiths. With known pieces dating from at least the 1870s, Guilherme Soares mastered to perfection the Romantic, Naturalist and Belle Époque aesthetics, as is the case with the present jardinière.