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Silver tureen Jacques-Nicolas Röettiers
Paris, 1770-1771Estimate : €1,500,000 – 2,000,000
MASTERPIECES FROM THE
ORLOFF SILVER DINNER SERVICECOMMISSIONED BY EMPRESS CATHERINE THE
GREAT OF RUSSIA Le Goût Français - 8 November 2013, Paris
Paris – Christie’s is honored to present for sale magnificent silver with a Russian imperial provenance.
These pieces include a superb soup-tureen on stand and a set of four massive candlesticks from the
Orloff service which represents a crucial
milestone in the history of French silver. They will be the
highlight of the “Le Goût Français” sale to be held on 8 November 2013. Commissioned in 1770 by
Empress Catherine II of Russia from the finest Parisian silversmith of the time, Jacques Röettiers (1707-
1784) and his son Jacques-Nicolas Röettiers (1736-1788), the service comprised more than 3,000 pieces.
It is one of the earliest expressions of the Neo-classical style in silver. Items from this this legendary
service have occasionally appeared at auction, however, it has been more than 20 years since such a
significant group has been presented to the international market.
Marine de Cenival, Senior Specialist, Silver department: “Christie’s is pleased to unveil the previously
unpublished collection featuring the finest French silversmiths of the late 18th century. This is the first time that we have presented such a prestigious group of silver in Paris, a group which displays the talents of the silversmiths Roëttiers,
Auguste, Delanois, Mongenot and Charles Spriman. This sale promises to be a major event for those who appreciate and
ad mire the finest French silver.”
P r e s s R e l e a s e | P A R I S | 9 s e p t e m b r e 2 0 1 3
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Four silver candlesticks Jacques-Nicolas Röettiers
Paris, 1770-1771
Estimate : €500,000 – 800,000
The service was originally commissioned by Empress Catherine the
Great for her personal use, however, she later offered it as a gift to
her lover Count Orloff (1734-1783). Orloff had played a pivotal role
in the plot to depose Catherine’s husband Emperor Peter III in 1762.
On the death of the Count some twenty years later she repurchased
the service from the Count’s heirs and it remained in the imperial
collection until the sales held by the Soviet government in
1930s. Much of the service was acquired by the leading dealers of
the day, including Jacques Helft, with many pieces finding their way
into the greatest collections of the time, such as those formed by the
Rothschild, Camondo and Ortiz-Patino families. Pieces from the
Orloff service can also be found in the collections of
theMetropolitan Museum, New York, The Hermitage in St.
Petersburg and the Louvre in Paris.
The silversmith Jacques Röettiers received the commission through the
renowned sculptor and art advisor Etienne-Maurice Falconet and
completed the work in an extraordinarily short period of only 18 months.
It is regarded as one of the earliest and greatest expressions in silver of the
Neo-classical style which flourished in France during the reign of King
Louis XVI. The Neo-classical works of the Parisian silversmiths were
revered throughout Europe. The royal courts of Great Britain, Sweden and
Russia all acquired services in this new style.
Only a fraction of the service now survives. This sale will include a
magnificent soup tureen, cover and stand (estimate €1,500,000-2,000,000)
and a set of four candlesticks from the service (estimate €500,000-800,000).
The Francophile taste of Catherine the Great is further demonstrated by
the pair of wine coolers from her Kazan service commissioned from
Robert Auguste (estimate €400,000-600,000) and a pair of dish covers and
with assorted German dishes from the Nijni Novgorod service (estimate
€60,000-80,000) which will also be offered for sale.
Le Goût Français
Le Goût Français is a sale held twice a year as a showcase for the finest European Decorative Arts from
the 13th to 19th centuries. Christie’s specialists will present masterpieces from the field of porcelain, silver,
furniture, sculpture and works of art. The next sale on the 8th November will include exceptional Louis
XVI silver, medieval statuary, important furniture from the 18th century and sought-after porcelain with a
Royal provenance.
Sale: Friday 8 November 2013
Public exhibition: From Monday 4th to Thursday 7 November 2013, from 10 am to 6 pmChristie’s Paris : 9 avenue Matignon, 75008 Paris
Pair of wine coolersRobert-Joseph Auguste
Paris, 1778-1779Estimate: €400,000 – 600,000
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CONTACTS :
Beverly Bueninck | 01 40 76 84 08 | [email protected]
About Christie’s Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in the first half of 2013that totaled £2.4 billion/ $3.68 billion. In 2012, Christie’s had global auction and private sales thattotaled £3.92 billion/$6.27 billion making it the highest annual total in Christie’s history. Christie’s is aname and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well asinternational glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatestand most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and thebeautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine anddecorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in allcategories, with emphasis on Post-War and Contemporary, Impressionist and Modern, Old Masters and
Jewellery. Private sales totaled £465.2 million ($711.8 million) in the first half of 2013, an increase of 13% on the previous year, and for the third successive year represents the highest total for the period inboth company and art market history.
Christie’s has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the worldincluding in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, and Hong Kong.More recently, Christie’s has led in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the Middle East,
with successful sales, exhibitions and initiatives in Moscow, Baku, Beijing, Mumbai, Delhi, Jeddah, AbuDhabi, Doha and Dubai.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do
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