Offered by Baptiste Jamez Fine Arts
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A rare and refined personal hygiene instrument in partially gilt solid silver, combining a tongue scraper and an ear picker, crafted in Paris during the Régence period, between 1717 and 1722, as attested by the presence of the small discharge mark with fleur-de-lys, used in the capital at that time.
Baluster-shaped, the piece is richly decorated on both sides with chased foliate scrolls, alternating vermeil and silver in reserve, on a finely matted ground. The borders are enhanced with a delicate dotted edging, culminating in stylised fleurons, small blossoms and dotted motifs near the upper end.
The lower end on the obverse side features a simulated pedestal, adorned with a moulding of chased acanthus leaves on a stippled ground.
This refined decoration is typical of the ornamental vocabulary of the Régence, a transitional period between the classical rigour of Louis XIV’s reign and the emerging freedom of the Rocaille style.
Intended for oral and ear hygiene, such implements were part of the toilet or travel sets used by members of the elite. The flat end was designed to scrape the tongue, while the opposite end, shaped like an elongated spoon, served as an ear cleaner. These objects, often made by renowned Parisian silversmiths, combined practical use, refinement, and social distinction.
The fineness of the chasing, the quality of the original gilding, and the discreet positioning of the mark, as was customary for small silver objects, all attest to the technical mastery of Parisian silversmithing in the early 18th century.
A rare witness to aristocratic hygiene practices in the early 1700s, this piece embodies the intimate refinement of an era in which bodily care and the art of the toilette were both expressions of everyday luxury.
Condition report
Excellent overall condition.
Original vermeil.
No visible restorations.
Minor age-related wear to the flat gilded areas.
Exceptional chasing quality and overall crispness.
Delevery information :
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