Robert LINZELER – Set of 24 silver knives, blades by J. PIAULT, Paris 19th

Rare set of knives by the master silversmith Robert LINZELER. The smooth silver handles are richly adorned with applied ornamentation in the Regence taste: acanthus leaves over lambrequins on a matt ground at the butt, and at the ferrule, simulated cornices, scrolls, piastres, acanthus and laurel garlands, also on a matt ground.

The forged steel blades are signed Jules PIAULT à Paris, a renowned cutler of the second half of the 19th century, who was notably a supplier to Emperor Napoleon III.

Comprising two fitted boxes with:
• 12 cheese knives – L. 20.5 cm – Gross weight: 432 g
• 6 table knives and 6 dessert knives – L. 25.5 and 20.5 cm – Gross weight: 638 g
Total gross weight: 1,070 g

Hallmarks
• Minerva head, 1st standard (French sterling silver 950/1000)
• Maker's mark: RL beneath a royal crown, for Robert LINZELER
• Blades marked JP under a royal crown, with the inscription "1889 Médaille d’or", for Jules PIAULT à Paris (active 1856–1887)

Paris, late 19th century

Condition report
A few light surface scratches. Excellent condition for a set of this age. The blades retain a superb mirror polish.


ROBERT LINZELER

Robert Linzeler belonged to a distinguished dynasty of Parisian silversmiths established since 1808, of whom he was undoubtedly the most accomplished. He created the International Cup for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, and that same year was awarded a gold medal for his cutlery.

Quickly gaining fame, he produced both silverware and occasional pieces of furniture, supplying the elite of his time—celebrities, aristocrats and connoisseurs—with bespoke creations that combined luxury, refinement and technical mastery.

His works, often in sterling silver or vermeil, are remarkable for their flawless quality. He collaborated with prestigious craftsmen, notably Jules Piault, whose blades feature in many of Linzeler's pieces. He took over Piault’s workshop at the age of just 25. His oeuvre includes complete table services, decorative pieces and one-of-a-kind objects, often presented in luxurious cases.

Linzeler exhibited at the 1900 Exposition Universelle, where he was once again honoured for his creations. He collaborated with houses such as Cartier, for whom he produced refined silver objects, and with the designer Paul Iribe, with whom he created jewellery inspired by the Ballets Russes.

In 1920, he opened a boutique at 4 rue de la Paix, with interiors and façade designed by the renowned architects Louis Süe and André Mare, of the Compagnie des Arts Français. In 1922, he partnered with Alexandre Marchak, son of the former jeweller to Tsar Nicholas II, founding the firm Linzeler & Marchak, which produced exceptional Art Deco jewellery until 1925.

Today, Linzeler’s works are held in some of the world’s most prestigious collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Al Thani Collection.