Martin Guillaume Biennais

Silver Plate from the Service de campagne of Prince Eugene Napoleon

Paris and markers marks for 1809-1819

Silver

21.8cm

A silver dinner plate engraved with the Crown of Lombardy and initials E N, from the Service de campagne of Eugene Napoleon, adopted son of Napoleon and vice roi dÍtalie. Made by the goldsmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais, with French guaranty marks for Paris, year mark of 1809-1819 and Biennais’ mark of a lozenge with a monkey sitting on a ball.

When Napoleon became emperor, Biennais was appointed First Goldsmith and commissioned to make court dinner services and numerous other objects. During the Empire Biennais made many items for Napoleon and his family, as well as for Josephine and the de Beauharnais family but very few items have survived to today. The most spectacular aspect of Biennais’ production was the silver-gilt (vermeil) tableware. He made several dinner services for the court, but all have been lost. Only two tea services have miraculously survived, one made for Josephine; the second was executed on the occasion of Napoleon and Archduchess Marie-Louise’s wedding in 1810.

Biennais’ marks

Cypher of Prince Eugnen