The Napkin Ring Site

English arts and crafts

Data

Place

France

Time                              ca. 1900
Maker:                           Eugene Lefebvre
Style                              French art nouveau
Material                         950 silver, inside gilt
Silver techniques            Repousse decoration

Measures

Diameter 49 mm
Width 40 mm
Weight 53 g

Inscriptions                    None

References                     Annelies Kraekel-Albersee:
                                     Art Nouveau
                                     and Art Deco Silver

Marks

Collector’s comments

This napkin ring was bought in the 1980'es in London's Camden Passage - a charming mix of street market and specialist shops. It was spotted by my wife with a dealer displaying his goods on a carpet on the pavement. The large size and heavy gauge is typical of the best French napkin rings.
In her standard reference on art nouveau and art deco silver Annelies Kraekel-Albersee introduces French art nouveau silver as follows: "At the Paris Exhibition af 1900 the displays of numerous large and small silversmiths' workshops were highly lauded. These can be divides into three groups. To the first belong those silversmiths who used modern floral ornament on traditional forms, such as E. Lefebvre and sometimes Maison Christofle." This napkin ring is a fine and attractive example of Lefebvres work.
Unusually the hallmark (minerve) is struck partly on top of the Lefebvre's maker's mark and only lately did I notice a set of tiny (1,5 mm) marks on the inside: A design number 147 and a T followed by a sign that could identify a retailer, a designer or a line of design.
Feed back on these marks are most welcome.