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Louis XV Coin French Silver Tastevin Wine Taster browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Decorative Art:Metals:Silver:Continental: Pre 1900: item # 804915
Kensington House Antiques Kensington Maryland (301)942-0955 Guest Book $725 |
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A fine second standard (800/1000 pure) silver tastevin, the bottom inset with a rare Louis XV silver ecu coin. Tastevins with coiled snake handles are typically associated with the wine-making region of Bordeaux, in the southwest of France. The coin itself, dating to 1770, is a rare rather example minted in the southwestern city of Pau near the Spanish border. The front of the coin shows the bust of Louis XV wearing the “bandeau de Béarn” and surrounded by the legend translated as “Louis XV, by grace of God, King of France and Navarre.” The back side of the coin shows the royal coat of arms surrounded by the legend “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” The bottom of the coin shows scratched hatchmarks that were made to test the coin’s content when it was still used as currency. The sides of the tastevin surrounding the coin are worked in the traditional manner with concave gadrooning on one side and concave and convex bulls-eyes on the other. The snake handle is more detailed than most, with clearly worked scales and head. Tastevins were used by cellarmasters, sommeliers and wine merchants to judge the color, bouquet and taste of a bottle or cask without pouring a large quantity. The handle is marked with the 2nd standard Minerve and an indistinct maker’s mark. Origin: southwestern France, ca. 1840. Condition: excellent, no dings. Size: 3-1/4” diameter (excluding handle). Weight: 84.5 grams. |
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