Darte Frères - small Empire inkwell, Restoration - gilded porcelain

Visible in Paris. Personal delivery possible in the capital and its suburbs. Postage for France: 15€. Contact me for Europe and worldwide.

Inkwell
Hard porcelain enhanced with gilding
Vignette mark in iron red
Dimensions: H. 9 ; D. 10 (cm.)
Paris, circa 1810

Rich inkwell resting on four zoomorphic feet. Quadrangular base supporting the functional part in the form of a covered basin. Exuberantly decorated with palmettes in relief.

The Darte factory
Originally three brothers, in 1795 they began trading in and manufacturing porcelain, purchasing a factory on rue de Charonne and opening a store in the Palais Royal. In 1804, they parted company amicably. Brothers Louis Joseph and Jean François founded a new company, retaining the name Darte Frères, and set up shop on rue de la Roquette, while Joseph Darte continued under the name "Darte Ainé à Paris" and set up shop on rue de Popincourt. The brothers prospered (from 80 to 100 workers in peacetime). An advertisement from 1809 announces that the factory bears the title "Manufacture de porcelaine de S.A.I. Madame Mère de S.M. L'Empereur et Roi". In 1816, a second store opened at 16, rue Vienne. The factory took part in the 1819 exhibition and, as in 1806, won a silver medal. By 1820, however, things were becoming more complicated, and three years later the brothers divided the company's ailing assets between themselves. In 1824, Louis Joseph joined forces with one of his sons, Auguste Remi, but the business collapsed 1 year later. In 1828, bankruptcy was declared.

Condition report: wear and re-gilding, minor chips to base.

Ref: 0AT8JTNW2C