In these three volumes of catalog raisonné are studied the works in silver, gold, plated and lined with silver executed from 1500 to 1800 in France and Europe: a total of 891 works distributed chronologically in 477 entries.
The Louvre's goldsmith's and silversmith's collection thus stands out for its exceptional breadth.
Its slow constitution, operated generations after generations, makes it undoubtedly the most beautiful collection in the world. 17th century goldsmithing is the best represented there, with many pieces of tableware from the great royal and princely table services of the Ancien Régime, but the catalog also includes toiletries, furniture accessories (torches, mirrors, caskets) and religious goldsmithery, in particular that from the treasury of the Order of the Holy Spirit formed at the end of the 16th century. His masterpieces, such as the gold chest of Louis XIV precious stones, come from the personal collections of the King of France, but also from those of the great princes of the royal family, such as the Duke of Penthièvre and European sovereigns who, like Joseph I of Portugal, George III of England or Catherine II of Russia, were the clients of the most famous Parisian goldsmiths.
To these exceptional pieces, gifts or bequests from the greatest collectors since the 19th century, are added those from the collection Puiforcat entered the Louvre in 1955, which today forms, by the number of its cutlery and knives, a unique study collection in the world.
The culmination of thirty years of research, the catalog completely renews knowledge by delivering to the public many new discoveries on techniques, style, origins, heraldry, iconography... All the notices, abundantly illustrated, are referenced by archival sources, a bibliography, the images and the identification of the punches noted on the objects; they describe and analyze forms and ornaments and develop their historical and stylistic aspects.
In the appendix, an index, a heraldic table and 262 goldsmith biographies facilitate the use of this work designed to become a lasting reference.

Contents:

VOLUME 1

• Foreword
• Introduction
• Heraldry and silversmithing
• Note on hallmarks
• Abreviations list
• 16th century shaped pieces
• Paris
• Province
• Foreign
• 17th century shaped pieces
• Paris
• Province
• Foreign

VOLUME 2

• 18th century shaped pieces
• Paris
• Province
• Foreign

VOLUME 3

• Cutlery and knives 16th - 17th - 18th centuries
• 16th century. Paris. Foreign.
• 17th century. Paris. Foreign.
• 18th century. Paris. Foreign.
• Metal plated and lined with silver or gilt 17th and 18th centuries
• France
• Foreign
• Fakes

• Annexes
• Biographies of goldsmiths and silversmiths
• Heraldic table
• Concordance table
• Archives of the museums consulted
• Bibliography
• General index of records

The texts are written in French.

Printed in 2022, this box with 3 books is NEW and is 10 inches x 13 inches ( 25 cm x 34 cm )