18th Century French Solid Silver Taste-Vin

A rare and impressive 18th century French solid silver taste-vin (wine taster), hallmarked for Clermont-Ferrand and bearing the maker’s mark of Claude II Dulaure, a prominent Clermont-Ferrand goldsmith.

Dating from approximately 1775–1778, this substantial taste-vin is exceptionally solid and heavy for its type, weighing approximately 140 grams. It is an excellent example of French provincial silver from the reign of Louis XVI.

The piece bears the appropriate Clermont-Ferrand city assay mark for the period together with the master goldsmith’s mark of Claude II Dulaure. Claude II Dulaure belonged to a family of goldsmiths, being the son of a goldsmith and father of the writer Jacques Dulaure.

Taste-vins were traditionally used by wine merchants, négociants and cellar masters to examine the colour and clarity of wine. Their distinctive shallow, reflective form allowed the wine to be inspected easily, particularly in the dim surroundings of a wine cellar.

Details

✅ Maker: Claude II Dulaure

✅ Place: Clermont-Ferrand, France

✅ Date: Circa 1775–1778

✅ Period: 18th Century / Louis XVI

✅ Material: Solid French silver

✅ Weight: Approximately 132 grams

✅ Type: Wine taster / Taste-vin

✅ Hallmarks: Clermont-Ferrand city mark and Claude II Dulaure maker’s mark

✅ Condition: Excellent antique condition

✅ A substantial and unusually heavy example

A highly desirable piece of French provincial silver, particularly for collectors of Clermont-Ferrand silver, 18th-century French goldsmiths’ work and historic wine-related objects.

Please study the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and show the hallmarks and condition.