{"product_id":"risler-carre-5pc-antique-19th-century-french-sterling-silver-vermeil-tea-set-christofle-serving-tray","title":"Risler \u0026 Carre - 5pc. Antique 19th Century French Sterling Silver \u0026 Vermeil Tea Set + Christofle Serving Tray !","description":"\u003cbody\u003e\n\n\n\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003cmeta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ctitle\u003eRisler Carre 6pc antique French sterling silver and vermeil tea set\u003c\/title\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\n p.MsoNormal\n\t{margin-top:0in;\n\tmargin-right:0in;\n\tmargin-bottom:12.0pt;\n\tmargin-left:0in;\n\tfont-size:12.0pt;\n\tfont-family:\"Aptos\",sans-serif;\n\t}\np.MsoListParagraph\n\t{margin-top:0in;\n\tmargin-right:0in;\n\tmargin-bottom:12.0pt;\n\tmargin-left:.5in;\n\tfont-size:12.0pt;\n\tfont-family:\"Aptos\",sans-serif;\n\t}\n.style1 {\n\tfont-family: Arial;\n}\n.style2 {\n\tfont-family: Arial;\n\tfont-weight: bold;\n}\n.style3 {\n\tfont-size: medium;\n}\n.style4 {\n\tfont-size: medium;\n\tfont-weight: bold;\n}\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\n\n\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003c!--Risler \u0026 Carré, Risler and Carré silver, Risler Carré silversmith, French silversmith Risler Carré, Risler Carré tea set, Risler Carré vermeil, Risler Carré sterling silver, antique French silver tea set, Belle Époque silver, Parisian silversmiths, 19th century French silver, French vermeil tea service, Risler Carré hallmark, Minerva hallmark silver, French 950 silver, luxury antique silverware, French silver coffee service, Risler Carré 1900 Exposition, French decorative arts, antique silver tea and coffee set, Risler Carré value, Risler Carré auction, French gilt silver tea set, collector French silver, Risler Carré craftsmanship, Veuve Risler Carré, Faubourg Saint-Honoré silversmith, French royal silverware, Risler Carré Légion d'Honneur, museum quality French silver--\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; color: black; background: white\" class=\"style4\"\u003e\nDirect from Paris\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; color: black; background: white\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\nfont-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;\n-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;\ntext-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px\" class=\"style3\"\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; color: black; background: white\" class=\"style3\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;\nfont-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;\ntext-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;\nword-spacing:0px\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; color: black; background: white\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;\nfont-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;\ntext-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;\nword-spacing:0px\" class=\"style3\"\u003eA stunning 6pc. original French 19\u003csup style=\"box-sizing: border-box\"\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e \ncentury antique sterling silver and vermeil tea set in excellent condition.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003eThe set includes a samovar (water fountain), sugar bowl with vermeil \ninterior, coffee pot, teapot and cream pitcher with vermeil interior by two of \nFrance’s premier silversmiths, “Risler \u0026amp; Carre” and each is stamped with the \nFrench government’s Minerva 1 hallmark - circa late 1800s. Also included is a \nChristofle silver-plate serving tray. Each of the pieces have been \nprofessionally refinished to near new condition and each comes with its own \nanti-tarnish storage for easy storage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nIn the rarefied world of late nineteenth-century Parisian luxury goods, where \nthe finest silversmiths competed for the patronage of royalty, aristocracy, and \nthe newly wealthy bourgeoisie; the firm of Risler \u0026amp; Carré stands as a testament \nto the enduring pursuit of perfection in the decorative arts. Founded in 1897 by \nAndré Risler and Georges Carré, this prestigious maison specialized in the \ncreation of exceptional silverware and jewelry, quickly establishing itself \namong the most esteemed workshops of the Belle Époque. Their work, characterized \nby an impeccable fusion of classical proportion and modern artistic sensibility, \nrepresented the apogee of French silversmithing at the turn of the twentieth \ncentury. The firm is internationally known for their remarkable craftsmanship, \ntheir distinguished clientele and royal connections, the numerous awards and \naccolades the firm garnered on the international stage, and in particular, their \nmagnificent nineteenth-century sterling silver and vermeil tea sets - which \nremain among the most sought-after examples of French ornamental silver ever \nproduced.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe Founding and Artistic Vision of Risler \u0026amp; Carré:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe story of Risler \u0026amp; Carré begins with the \npartnership of two exceptional talents whose complementary skills would create \none of the most celebrated silversmithing houses of the early twentieth century. \nIn 1897, André Risler, formerly the workshop head at the renowned house of \nFrédéric Boucheron, joined forces with Georges Carré to establish their atelier \nat 16, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. This address was no mere \ncoincidence; the Faubourg Saint-Honoré was, and remains, one of the most \nprestigious districts in Paris, a neighborhood that had long been associated \nwith the finest silversmiths, jewelers, and luxury craftsmen in France. The \nlocation itself was a statement of ambition, placing the new firm in direct \nproximity to the most discerning clientele in Europe.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003eThe partnership flourished until André Risler’s untimely death in 1912, \nat which point the maker’s mark was cancelled on 19 October of that year. \nFollowing this tragedy, the firm continued for a time under the name Veuve A. \nRisler \u0026amp; Carré (Widow A. Risler \u0026amp; Carré), though the golden age of the maison \nhad passed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nWhat distinguished Risler \u0026amp; Carré from their contemporaries was their remarkable \nstylistic versatility and their ability to synthesize the finest traditions of \nFrench decorative arts with contemporary artistic currents. As noted by the \nauction house Sotheby’s, the firm specialized in “refined silver tableware and \ndecorative objects, often combining sterling silver with crystal, porcelain, and \noccasionally gilding or enamel, in a sophisticated style inspired by Louis XV, \nLouis XVI, or the Empire”. This neoclassical foundation, however, was not merely \na matter of slavish revivalism; the firm infused these historical forms with the \nfluid, organic vitality of Art Nouveau, creating works that were both timeless \nand distinctly modern. This dual character - respectful of tradition yet boldly \ncontemporary - ensured that their creations appealed to a clientele that valued \nboth heritage and innovation.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe Art of the Silversmith - Quality and Craftsmanship:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe exceptional quality of Risler \u0026amp; Carré’s \noutput begins with the materials they employed. The firm worked almost \nexclusively in the highest standard of French silver, known as *argent massif* \nor 950 standard silver, often designated by the Minerva head hallmark in an \noctagonal reserve. This standard of purity - 950 parts silver per thousand, \nsignificantly higher than the 925 standard of sterling silver used in Britain \nand America - reflects the firm’s commitment to excellence and their confidence \nin the quality of their workmanship . The weight and gauge of their pieces are \nconsistently noted by connoisseurs; as one specialist observed of a Risler \u0026amp; \nCarré wine cooler, the hallmarks were “struck deeply due to the exceptional \ngauge of silver,” a physical manifestation of the firm’s generous use of \nprecious metal .\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nBeyond the raw materials, it was the quality of execution that truly \ndistinguished Risler \u0026amp; Carré. Their pieces were created through a combination of \ntraditional techniques: “repoussé” (raising the form from the reverse side), “ciselage” \n(chasing and engraving the surface), and “fonte” (casting for handles, spouts, \nand finials). The complexity of these processes required a level of skill that \nonly the finest Parisian workshops could command, and the firm’s factory at \nVieille-du-Temple was renowned for the consistency of its output. Sotheby’s, in \ndescribing a silver-gilt mounted desk set from circa 1905, noted that Risler \u0026amp; \nCarré were “among a select group of early 20th Century Parisian boutiques \nspecializing in the sale of high quality jewellers’ and goldsmiths’ work,” \nplacing them in the company of such esteemed rivals as Bointaburet, Falize, \nCardeilhac, and Keller.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe aesthetic sensibility of the firm was shaped largely by André Risler, who \nserved as the principal designer behind most of the pieces produced. His \ntraining under Frédéric Boucheron, one of the most celebrated jewelers of the \nnineteenth century, instilled in him a meticulous attention to detail and a \nrefined sense of proportion. This background in jewelry design is evident in the \ndelicate precision of Risler \u0026amp; Carré’s ornamentation - the crisp acanthus \nleaves, the elegant ribbon-tied laurel wreaths, the perfectly modelled fruit \nfinials - all executed with the exactitude of a jeweler working on a miniature \nscale, yet translated into the grander dimensions of table silver. As the \ncorrespondent for “Le Gaulois” observed in 1908, the firm’s stock consisted of “pièces \nd’orfèvrerie, bijoux, épingles-broches, objets anciens montés avec goût,” all \ncharacterized by “artistique exécution et de goût parfait”.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eRoyal and Aristocratic Patronage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe prestige of Risler \u0026amp; Carré derived in no \nsmall measure from the distinguished nature of their clientele. From their \nearliest years, the firm “gained a strong reputation amongst the Parisienne \nelite,” and this reputation soon extended beyond the borders of France to \nencompass the crowned heads and aristocracy of Europe. The Faubourg Saint-Honoré \nlocation, situated near the Élysée Palace and the great embassies, placed the \nfirm in daily contact with the most powerful and wealthy individuals in Parisian \nsociety. The elegant crowd (“foule élégante”) that patronized the boutique \nduring the Christmas season of 1908, as described in “Le Gaulois”, was a \nmicrocosm of the Belle Époque elite - a “belle et riche clientèle” that included \nthe old nobility, the new industrial fortunes, and the international \ncosmopolitans who made Paris their home .\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe firm’s participation in world exhibitions and the honors they received \nattest to their standing in the eyes of official France and, by extension, the \nroyal houses that looked to Paris for the finest luxury goods. The appointment \nof André Risler as a “chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” in 1906 was a formal \nrecognition by the French state of his contributions to the decorative arts, an \nhonor that carried significant weight in the world of luxury manufacture. The \nLégion d’Honneur was not awarded lightly to artisans and manufacturers; it \nsignified that the recipient’s work was deemed to have contributed to the glory \nof France itself. That Risler received this distinction at the age of \nforty-three, only nine years after founding his firm, speaks to the rapidity \nwith which Risler \u0026amp; Carré had established itself as a national asset.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe international character of the firm’s clientele is perhaps best illustrated \nby the inclusion of their work in the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. \nLouis, where only six French silversmiths were selected to exhibit. This was not \nmerely a commercial opportunity but a diplomatic and cultural mission: these six \nfirms were chosen to represent the finest that France could offer to the New \nWorld. The American elite, many of whom were building vast collections of \nEuropean decorative arts, became important patrons of Risler \u0026amp; Carré, and \nexamples of their work remain in prominent American private collections and \nmuseums to this day. \u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eAwards and International Recognition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe awards garnered by Risler \u0026amp; Carré during \ntheir relatively brief period of activity constitute a remarkable record of \nsustained excellence. The most significant of these was the gold medal awarded \nat the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900. This was a moment of particular \nsignificance for the firm, coming just three years after its founding. The 1900 \nExposition was the largest and most spectacular world’s fair ever held, \nattracting over fifty million visitors and serving as a global showcase for the \nachievements of industry and art. To win a gold medal in this context, competing \nagainst the greatest silversmiths of France and Europe, was an extraordinary \nachievement. As one commentator noted, “the competition among French \nsilversmiths was particularly fierce,” making the award all the more meaningful.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe firm’s success at the 1900 Exposition was not an isolated triumph but the \nbeginning of a sustained pattern of recognition at subsequent international \nexhibitions. They continued to “garner accolades at subsequent world fairs,” and \nthey received a “Grand Prix” award at various subsequent world exhibitions. The \nGrand Prix represented the highest level of recognition at these events, \nreserved for works of exceptional originality and technical mastery. The \naccumulation of these awards cemented Risler \u0026amp; Carré’s reputation not merely as \nskilled craftsmen but as leaders in the artistic evolution of silver design.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nA particularly significant honor came with the firm’s participation in the 1904 \nLouisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. The selection of only six French \nsilversmiths to represent the nation at this event placed Risler \u0026amp; Carré in an \nextraordinarily select group, implicitly ranking them among the finest houses in \nFrance. This was not merely a matter of artistic merit but also of commercial \ndiplomacy; the French government, through its selection process, was signaling \nto the American market which firms it considered most worthy of representing \nFrench luxury. The acclaim that Risler \u0026amp; Carré received in St. Louis “brought \nthe firm worldwide fame,” extending their reputation far beyond the confines of \nParis.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe critical reception of the firm’s work in the contemporary press further \nattests to their standing. The Christmas 1908 survey in “Le Gaulois” described \ntheir stock as consisting of “très artistiques nouveautés” that were “goûtées de \nleur belle et riche clientèle”. The correspondent noted with approval the \n“artistique exécution et de goût parfait” of the firm’s offerings, singling out \nfor particular praise the “ravissantes cassolettes,” the “très belle collection \nde boîtes à allumettes,” and for ladies, “une bien jolie série d’épingles à \nchapeau ornées d’émaux délicieux et de perles baroques fort originales”. The \nurgency with which the correspondent advised readers to hasten (“Il est bon de \nse hâter”) because the choice was so attractive and the amateurs of taste were \nalready disputing the “merveilles de cette grande maison” reveals the firm’s \ncombination of critical esteem and commercial desirability.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eTheir Nineteenth-Century Sterling Silver and Vermeil Tea \nSets:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eAmong the most celebrated productions of \nRisler \u0026amp; Carré are their magnificent tea and coffee services, executed in both \nsterling silver and vermeil (silver-gilt). These sets, like this amazing 5-piece \nset, represent the culmination of the firm’s artistic and technical \ncapabilities, combining complex forms, exquisite ornamentation, and the \nluxurious use of precious metal in works of significant scale and weight. The \ntea set, in particular, held a special place in the nineteenth-century French \ndomestic interior, serving as a focal point of social ritual and a conspicuous \ndisplay of taste and wealth. The finest Parisian silversmiths competed to create \nservices that were not merely functional but were works of art in their own \nright, and Risler \u0026amp; Carré’s offerings in this domain are among the most \ndistinguished of their era.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe use of vermeil - silver fully gilded with a layer of gold - was a particular \nmark of luxury in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The gold surface \nnot only protected the silver beneath from tarnish but also imparted a warm, \ngolden glow that was considered especially appropriate for tea and coffee \nservices, where the colours of the infusions would be complemented by the \ngleaming vessel. The process of creating vermeil was both expensive and \ntechnically demanding, requiring the application of a gold amalgam followed by \nfiring to evaporate the mercury and bond the gold to the silver, a process \ndangerous to the artisans involved. That Risler \u0026amp; Carré produced such services \nin vermeil attests both to their technical capabilities and to their confidence \nthat a market existed for such luxurious objects.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe Legacy of Risler \u0026amp; Carré:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe closure of Maison Risler \u0026amp; Carré \nfollowing André Risler’s death in 1912 marked the end of one of the most \nbrilliant chapters in French silversmithing. The firm had existed for only \nfifteen years, yet in that brief period it had achieved a level of recognition \nand esteem that many older houses might envy. The cancellation of the maker’s \nmark on 19 October 1912 was a formal acknowledgment that the creative spirit of \nthe firm had departed with its founder. The subsequent operation under the name \nVeuve A. Risler \u0026amp; Carré, continuing into the 1920s, maintained the firm’s \nstandards to some degree, but the innovative energy that had characterized the \npartnership of Risler and Carré was inevitably diminished.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe reasons for the firm’s closure were both personal and historical. The \nuntimely death of André Risler at the height of his powers was a blow from which \nthe maison could not recover; his role as principal designer and creative force \nwas irreplaceable. Moreover, the years leading up to the First World War and the \nwar itself saw many French silver manufacturing companies go under, as the \nmarket for luxury goods contracted and resources were diverted to the war \neffort. The Belle Époque, with its confident celebration of luxury and \ncraftsmanship, was giving way to a more austere and uncertain era. The world \nthat had sustained Risler \u0026amp; Carré - the world of grand hotels, lavish \nentertainments, and the confident display of wealth - was passing away.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nYet the legacy of the firm endures in the objects it left behind. Today, pieces \nsigned Risler \u0026amp; Carré, like this gorgeous tea set, are “sought after for their \nelegance and superb craftsmanship, and are held in major private and public \ncollections”. The Musée d’Orsay in Paris lists Risler et Carré among the \nsignificant decorative arts firms of the period, and their work appears \nregularly at the major auction houses, where it commands strong prices and \nattracts discerning collectors. \u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nFor collectors and students of the decorative arts, Risler \u0026amp; Carré represents a \nparticular moment in the history of French silversmithing: the moment when the \nclassical traditions of the eighteenth century were being reimagined through the \nlens of Art Nouveau and the emerging modern sensibility of the early twentieth \ncentury. Their work embodies the confidence and optimism of the Belle Époque, \nits belief in the value of beauty and the importance of craftsmanship, and its \ndelight in the luxurious materials that nature and art could provide. The tea \nsets, in particular, capture this spirit in objects of daily ritual transformed \ninto occasions of beauty and refinement. A Risler \u0026amp; Carré teapot, with its \ngraceful baluster form, its delicate chasing, and its gleaming vermeil surface, \nis not merely a vessel for brewing tea but a small monument to a vanished world \nof elegance and taste.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style2\"\u003eRisler \u0026amp; Carré – The Pinnacle of French Silversmithing:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style1\"\u003e \nThe firm of Risler \u0026amp; Carré, though active for only fifteen years, represents the \npinnacle of French silversmithing during the Belle Époque. The firm combined the \nhighest technical standards with an artistic vision that synthesized classical \ntradition and modern innovation. Their use of 950 standard silver and vermeil, \ntheir mastery of repoussé and ciselage, and their collaboration with the finest \nartisans in other media produced works of exceptional quality that were \nrecognized with a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle and \nselection as one of only six French silversmiths to exhibit at the 1904 St. \nLouis World’s Fair. The appointment of André Risler as a chevalier of the Légion \nd’Honneur in 1906 confirmed his status as one of the leading artists in his \nfield.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe tea and coffee services created by Risler \u0026amp; Carré stand as the most complete \nexpression of their artistic and technical capabilities. These works demonstrate \nthe firm’s ability to work at multiple scales while maintaining the highest \nstandards of design and craftsmanship. Their use of both silver and vermeil \nallowed for subtle variations in color and mood, appropriate to different \noccasions and settings. The fact that these services continue to be sought after \nby collectors and institutions more than a century after their creation is the \nmost eloquent testimony to their enduring quality. The work of Risler \u0026amp; Carré \nembodies the highest ideals of French decorative art: the union of technical \nmastery, artistic imagination, and the confident use of precious materials in \nthe service of beauty and refinement. The amazing 5-piece set with accompanying \nChristofle serving tray is a testament to the quality and craftsmanship for \nwhich the firm was internationally known.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e \n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eSet Composition: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; color: black; background: white\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003eThe set includes a samovar (water fountain) with heater, \nsugar bowl with vermeil interior, coffee pot, teapot and cream pitcher with \nvermeil interior by Risler and Carré and a Christofle silver-plate serving tray.\n\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003e\nsamovar stands approximately 37.50cm. high to the top of the lid, is roughly \n17.00 cm across to the outside of the handles and weights 1,690 grams. It is \nstamped with the French government’s Head of the Minerva 1 hallmark in addition \nto the Risler and Carre manufacturer’s sterling silver hallmark and is stamped \n“A. Risler \u0026amp; Carre Paris” on the underside as well as on the underside of the \nheater. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; color: black; background: white\"\u003eThe\n\u003c\/span\u003eSterling silver Teapot is roughly 19.50cm. high to the top of the lid, \n23.00cm. across from the tip of the spout to the outside of the handle and \nweights 738 grams.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eIt is stamped \nwith the French government’s Head of the Minerva 1 hallmark in addition to the \nmanufacturer’s sterling silver hallmark which is illegible. \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"style3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c\/o:p\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;\"\u003e\nThe sugar bowl with vermeil interior is roughly 15.50cm. high to the top of the \nlid, 14.00cm. across to the outside of the handles and weights 467 grams. It is \nstamped with the French government’s Head of the Minerva 1 hallmark in addition \nto the manufacturer’s sterling silver hallmark which is illegible. The coffee \npot is approximately 23.00cm. in height to the top of the lid, 18.50cm. across \nfrom its widest point to the outside of the handle and weights 579 grams. It is \nstamped with the French government’s Head of the Minerva 1 hallmark in addition \nto the manufacturer’s sterling silver hallmark which is illegible. The elegant \ncream pitcher is 13.50cm. high to the top of the handle, 14.50cm. from its \nwidest point to the outside of the handle and weights 228 grams.\n\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehallmarks Minerva 1 and the makers mark \nis illegible. It is stamped with the French government’s Head of the Minerva 1 \nhallmark in addition to the manufacturer’s sterling silver hallmark which is \nillegible. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe sturdy Christofle serving \ntray is silver-plate and measures 63.50cm. in length, 43.00cm. wide and weights \nover 3000 grams. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eIt bears the Christofle \nsilver-plate hallmark and is stamped Christofle on the underside. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\n\n\u003c\/body\u003e","brand":"OnlineSilver.Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50524078964955,"sku":"RisCar-092726","price":18509.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0646\/1348\/2715\/files\/Risler_Carre-5pcTeaSet-SetComplete-2.png?v=1790518357","url":"https:\/\/www.onlinesilver.store\/products\/risler-carre-5pc-antique-19th-century-french-sterling-silver-vermeil-tea-set-christofle-serving-tray","provider":"Estate-Sterling.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}