Martin Guillaume Biennais

Silver Plate from the Service de campaign of Napoleon

Paris and markers marks for 1809-1819

Silver

21.8cm

Inscribed inventory number: 277

A silver dinner plate engraved with the Imperial Coat of Arms, from the Service de campagne de L’Empereur Napoleon, Napoleon’s private dinner service used by him while on campaign. Made by his goldsmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais, with French guaranty marks for Paris and year mark of 1809-1819, Biennais mark of a lozenge with a monkey sitting on a ball, and engraved inventory number of 277.

Most of Napoleon’s campaign silver fell into the hands of the Allies after his defeat at Waterloo in June 1815. The Prussian’s capturing the largest amount of more than 180 kg, with its value estimated at 54,312.11 francs. Apart for a few pieces of the large vermeil tableware that remained the property of the Crown after 1815, most of Napoleon’s silver was melted down under the Second Empire to finance the production of a new service. As a result, today, the remaining pieces found come from items taken by Napoleon to St. Helena, or the spoils of war in 1815. This plate came from Poland so it may have been part of the Prussian booty captured at Waterloo and carried back to Eastern Europe.

The most spectacular aspect of Biennais’ work was his silver-gilt (also called vermeil) tableware. He made several dinner services for the Imperial  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’ and inventory marks

Engraved imperial arms