Jean Puiforcat sterling silver vase

Bio

The Parisian silversmith Puiforcat is regarded as one of the legendary names in European silver craftsmanship. Founded in 1820 by the two brothers Emile and Joseph-Marie Puiforcat, the manufactory soon established itself as a purveyor of silver tableware to various royal households.

In 1922 a design revolution replaced the Louis Quinze and Regency styles, which had been cultivated by Puiforcat during the nineteenth century. This new era was ushered in by the grandson of the company founder. Jean Emile Puiforcat began to use the once popular décor much more sparingly or even leave it out entirely. He preferred flat surfaces, clear shapes and pleasant proportions. This was realized for example in the Cannes cutlery that Jean E. Puiforcat designed for his own wedding in 1928.

Jean Emile Puiforcat was regarded as one of the most important silver craftsmen of the Art Déco period. Some of his work is on exhibition at the Louvre. With his credo of “Rebirth of skilled craftsmanship” and his plastic and abstract forms, he has left a lasting mark on the silver art of the twentieth century. Puiforcat emphasizes the fact that “Our silversmiths know that a finished piece should not display any traces of the hammering.”.