56. Silver Dress Cane
Ca. 1900 Silver handle formed of a robust and evenly tapering circular hollowed rod bent into a well-propor- tioned classic crook shape. It begins with a straight and shorter neck, expands with a broader curve in a wider hand rest, continues downward in a shorter nose, and finishes in an inward coil. The surface is completely chased with a crossband pattern that literally binds its reeded structure together in accordance with the tapering core's arrangement. Two subtleties that only an experienced eye can see enhance the obvious excellence of this handle, bringing it to the status of valued fine art. The first element is its profile, which characterizes the traditional French crook handle and distinguishes it from other European and American models. Additionally, its design is free of unnecessary ornamentation, enhancing its functionality and identifying it with Puiforcat, a place where tradition and innovation have shaped the history of French silver- smithing since 1820. The “Minerve casquée” indicates that the handle is French and made of higher- quality 950/1000 precious metal. It was manufactured by Émile Puiforcat, as shown by a second, evident hallmark on a pocket knife: the initials “E and P” inside a diamond shape. Beautiful and agreeable to hold, the handle is not only functional art but a Landmark of French silver manufacturing with avant-garde visions. It retains its original ebony shaft and bears ennobling age marks. H. 4” 3 ¼”, O.L. 36”
$400-$500
Since 1820, tradition and innovation have shaped the history of silversmithing art de vivre within the House of Puiforcat. The House’s legacy was forged under the auspices of a singular dynasty. Two centuries later, Puiforcat continues to exalt sterling silver through a demanding creative process steeped in rare savoir-faire. Jean-Baptiste Fuchs established his cutlery shop around 1820 in the Marais district of Paris, a neigh- borhood known for its dense fabric of craftsmanship. He soon joined forces with his cousins Emile and Joseph-Marie Puiforcat, with a view to fitting out his workshop for the production of elegant cutlery and table accessories in both silver and vermeil. In 1857, Émile Puiforcat, newly at the helm of the company, registered the hallmark still in use today to certify the authenticity of Puiforcat creations: a pocket knife flanked with the initials E and P within a diamond silhouette. The name Puiforcat carries with it both a culture rooted in tradition and the hallmark of consummate creativity. Puiforcat was acquired by the Groupe Hermès in 1993 and continues to perpetuate the close ties between crafts- manship and creation by initiating collaborations with top names in contemporary design. The crossband pattern dates back all the way to the “Lictor” (possibly from Latin ligare, meaning 'to bind'), a Roman civil servant who was an attendant and bodyguard to a magistrate who held imperium. Roman records describe lictors as having existed since the Roman Kingdom, and may have originated with the Etruscans.
116 - Continental Cane Collection Auction
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