Jean Després Hammered Silver & Napoleon III Coin Tastevin Wine Taster

A hammered French silver tastevin winetaster by Modernist and Futurist master Jean Després (1889-1980). The bowl is hammered from a block of silver and adorned with the traditional coiled snake handle, thought to represent the snake of the Garden of Eden and the temptations associated with wine. The bottom is inset with a 5-franc coin from the reign of Emperor Napoleon III, dated 1867. There are few Després tastevins for comparison, but this is the only example we have seen with a coin insert. Després’ formative years were spent in the company of Picasso, Modigliani, and Braque whose style heavily influenced his own work. His stint as an aircraft parts designer during World War I also contributed to his love of industrial motifs. His work was scorned in the 1920s, but by the 1940s, Després had become one of France’s most important decorative arts and jewelry designers, and his work appeared in the collections of provocative personalities such as Josephine Baker, Andy Warhol, and Paul Signac. Much of his work was in silverplate or pewter, but some pieces were worked in silver. Believing that others could not meet his standards, he preferred to work alone and created most pieces personally. Later, his style became simpler. This tastevin likely dates from the apex of his career in the 1940s and 50s. It is stamped with French silver marks and bears Després etched signature on the bottom.

• Origin: France, c. 1945-60
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3-5/16” x 4-5/16” x 1-1/4”
• Weight: 119.6 g