Pair of Silver-Gilt Pots à Jus Paris for Napoleon's Mother by Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot

Pair of Silver-Gilt Pots à Jus for Napoleon's Mother
Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot
Hallmarked 1798-1809

This extraordinary pair of silver-gilt pots à jus was crafted as part of the legendary "Madame Mère Service," commissioned for Napoleon's mother by the preeminent Empire silversmith Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot. Napoleonic silver of such exceptional beauty, storied provenance and historical significance is among the rarest French treasures available today.

The mother of one of history’s most renowned emperors, Maria-Letizia Bonaparte (1750-1836)—officially known as "Madame Mère"—helped shape Napoleon’s Empire through her exceptional taste. Her impressive collection represented the pinnacle of French imperial artistry during this transformative period. Among her most significant commissions was the magnificent silver-gilt "Madame Mère Service" by Odiot, whose opulent creations defined the Empire style. Commissioned for her extravagant Paris residence at the Hôtel de Brienne, the entire silver-gilt "Madame Mère Service" was delivered on November 11, 1806, at the height of Napoleon’s power. 

These beautiful pots à jus exude luxury and royalty, crafted to embody imperial and neoclassical grandeur. Each one bears Napoleon’s Imperial Arms above the letter “M” for his mother, "Madame Mère." Formidable bull masks form each handle, which allowed the easy pouring of meat juices and similar reduction sauces during a formal dinner service. Madame Mère's table would have been an influential social center during the Empire period, as she maintained an important salon from her residence attended by the era's elite. Her elaborate Odiot service, therefore, would have embodied the absolute pinnacle of opulence and refinement in tableware.

The only silversmith suitable for the creation of such a service for the Emperor’s mother was Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot (1763-1850), whose technical and artistic brilliance transformed the decorative arts of the French Empire. He caught Napoleon’s attention in 1801 when he won the gold medal at the Exhibition of French Industry, launching his career as one of the official Imperial silversmiths. Beyond creating Napoleon's celebrated Grand Service, Odiot's workshop, employing over 400 master artisans, fulfilled prestigious commissions throughout European courts. His technical virtuosity and artistic innovation transformed French decorative arts, establishing standards of excellence and ingenuity that influenced generations of silversmiths.

Surviving pieces from the historic “Madame Mère Service” are extraordinary rarities, as much imperial silver was melted during periods of political upheaval, and many of Odiot’s masterworks now reside in the world’s most prestigious museums, including the Louvre, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These pots à jus have survived in pristine condition for more than two centuries, standing as extraordinary connections to the Bonaparte dynasty and the Napoleonic era that transformed European history and decorative arts.

The archives of Maison Odiot indicate that the service was delivered to Madame Mère at the Hôtel de Brienne on November 11, 1806. 

Each: 3 1/2” high by 3 1/2” wide by 2 1/2” deep

Provenance:
Maria Letizia Ramolino, known as Madame Mére (1750-1836), mother of Emperor Napoleon
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 9 May 1968, lot 60 (probably)
Private Collection, Switzerland
Private Collection, United Kingdom
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
V. Brett, The Sotheby's Directory of Silver 1600-1940, London, 1986, p. 376-377, no. 1,792