Pair of Aucoc French Gilt Sterling Silver 1850 Large Wine Coolers / Centerpieces

Pair of Aucoc, French gilt 0.950 (higher purity than sterling) silver monumental wine coolers, of exceptionally heavy gage, made around 1850, richly adorned with tree and vine motifs in high relief with exquisite detail. They measure 11 1/3'' in height by 12 1/2'' from handle to handle by 9 2/3'' in depth, have removable and original gilt silver liners, weigh an impressive 282 troy ounces and bear hallmarks as shown. The hallmark Aucoc Aine means Aucoc the Elder, signifying their early date. 

Maison Aucoc was one of the leading goldsmiths and jewelers of the Second Empire and Art Nouveau movements in France. It exhibited a tea table at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904 and the judges awarded the firm a Grand Prize. The Maison Aucoc was founded in 1821 by Louis Aucoc Aine as a silversmithing business at 154 Rue St. Honoré in Paris. In 1835, the business moved to Rue de la Paix, and in 1854, he retired and left his son Louis Aucoc in charge of the family firm. During his tenure, Aucoc added jewelry manufacturing to the already successful silver business with great success. The 1870s proved to be a time of great expansion for the company. Aucoc purchased the Maison Lobojois and consolidated both businesses to create La Maison Aucoc, where the legendary René Lalique apprenticed. Aucoc participated in the major international exhibitions of the day with some of the firm's grandest furniture and jewelry creations.

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