This great silver-gilt tea service was created for the Emperor
Napoleon and his second wife, the Archduchess Marie-Louise of
Austria, shortly after their wedding in 1810.
Many of the main pieces – such as the double salts, sugar bowl
and punch bowl – were designed by Napoleon’s architect Charles
Percier.
The tea service was assembled and supplied by the Emperor's
goldsmith, Martin-Guillaume Biennais.
What does the tea service represent?
The eagle of Zeus on the sugar bowl and the Emperor’s portrait
on the knife handles glorify Napoleon. The figure of Venus, goddess
of love, on the salts and the mythological lovers Cupid and Psyche
on the sugar bowl celebrate Napoleon and Marie-Louise’s
marriage.
The tea service presents so many Napoleonic references that it
could not be used by the restored Bourbon Kings of France. It was
sold in 1830 by King Charles X to agents acting for Alexander, 10th
Duke of Hamilton.
Who was the Duke of Hamilton?
Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton (1767-1852) was extremely proud
of his titles and status as premier peer of Scotland. He lived up
to his reputation by building a huge Classical-style north block
onto Hamilton Palace and acquiring outstanding French furniture and
other items which transformed the palace into an amazing treasure
house.
He was a great admirer of the Emperor Napoleon, and he
demonstrated this and his opposition to the British government of
the time, by commissioning a very expensive portrait of the Emperor
and displaying it in London in the early 1800s.
After Napoleon’s defeat, the Duke became an ardent admirer of
the Emperor’s sister, Princess Pauline Borghese, and of the trusted
friend of the Emperor’s mother and uncle, Cardinal Fesch.
In 1825 Princess Pauline bequeathed her wonderful travelling
service to the Duke as a token of her thanks for all his help. Her
bequest inspired the Duke to commission Napoleon’s former architect
Charles Percier to produce designs for the new interiors of
Hamilton Palace. This led, in turn, in 1830 to the purchase of the
stupendous silver-gilt tea service.
Where is it now?
Napoleon’s tea service is now divided between the Louvre in
Paris, which acquired chest one and its contents in 1919, and
National Museums Scotland, which bought the second chest in 1976,
with the aid of the Art Fund.