Spoon (part of a dining service)

Art Historical Context

This elegant silver gilt spoon, crafted by Parisian goldsmith Pierre-Benoîtillon around 1805, forms part of a luxurious dining service designed for the refined tables of early 19th-century France Measuring 7 5/8 inches in length, its gleaming surface—achieved through the gilding technique of applying a thin layer of gold over silver—exemplifies the opulence of the Napoleonic Empire style. Lorillon, a master silversmith active in Paris, specialized in such high-end metalwork, blending neoclassical motifs with imperial grandeur to cater to the elite. During this era, silver gilt tableware symbo...