Sterling silver centerpiece “surtout”, Tétard Frères in Paris

Beautiful Louis XV style three pieces center piece in silver and glass by the “Tétard Frères” establishment. Silver marks for 950/1000. Very decorative, it dresses the center of a table.

Size: 108 cm long and 44 cm wide in the middle. The central plateau is L 65cm x W 44 cm – the side pieces are L 30 cm x W 32 cm

Tétard Frères in Paris, circa 1910.

Lit: The “Tétard” et “Tétard frères” silvermiths’ workshop in Paris, renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries, was one of the last French workshops dedicated to the production of sterling silver and vermeil. Located in the Marais district, at 4 rue Béranger, at least between 1881 and 1978, and then also at 12 rue Portefoin for the workshop, it was started by Edmond, followed after his death in 1901 by his three sons Henri, Jacques and Georges, under the name ‘Tétard Frères’.

Edmond married Lucie Marie Raingo in Paris, daughter of Gabriel Jules Raingo from the famous family specialising in clocks and bronze furnishings. Edmond engraved his silversmith’s mark with the symbol of the ‘Huguenot’ pot, taken from the mark of Émile Hugo, whose succession he took over. Since 1851, Hugo had run a goldsmith’s workshop specialising in shaped pieces at 4 rue Béranger in Paris. Tétard surrounded himself with skilled craftsmen and artists to create designs and spent a great deal on materials. In 1889, Tétard attracted attention at the Paris Universal Exhibition for several creations: a table centrepiece modelled by Quinton; a hand fountain (designed by Henri Cameré, modelled by Boussard, and the group of children by Auguste Moreau); writing cases, mirrors, mounted cups and crystals, and a large service for the Marquis de Linarès. A centrepiece for the Marquis de Linarès, sold at Tétard’s auction, was modelled for the statues by Émile Peynot and Mathurin Moreau, and the figures were cast by Rudier. It won a gold medal. Prevost, from the Tétard company, also won a bronze medal for goldsmithing. The press described the factory as important at the time. The goldsmith, who specialised in Louis XV-style silverware, had a vast clientele stretching from South America to Russia. In 1900, at the Universal Exhibition, he was a member of the silverware jury.

The next generation, that of Henri, Jacques and Georges, included Jean, Henri’s son, who designed models for his father’s workshop; then Roger, Jacques’ son; and Pierre, Georges’ son.

The company reached its peak at the 1931 Colonial Exhibition, where it won 10 medals.

Mrs André Tétard was the last member of the family to run the business, until 1983. André had previously sold the group to the Comptoir Lyon Allemand in 1978. The name ‘Tétard frères’ appears as a secondary establishment of Daum, at 4 rue Montesquieu in Paris, at least until 2005.