A rare set of four large Belgian silver toilet boxes, Bertholet Labeen de Lambermont, Liège, 1693

oval shaped, the lids with foliated scrollwork on a matted ground and engraved with the arms of the Salms family

Commissioned by Charles Antoine de Salms; given by his descendants to the de Clercx de Waroux family, before 1905, thence in the same Belgian family by descent. 

Universal Exhibition, Liège, L'art ancien au Pays de Liège, Palais des Arts Anciens, 1905, no. 4037 ;
Exposition de l'art de l'Ancien Pays de Liège et des anciens arts wallons, Centenary of the Independence of Belgium, Liège, 1930, no. 1858.

Literature:
G. Terme, L'art ancien au pays de Liège. Album publié sous le patronage du comité exécutif de l'exposition universelle de Liège, Liège, 1905, vol. II, pl. 122 ;
Exposition de l'art de l'Ancien Pays de Liège et des anciens arts wallons, exh. cat., Liège, 1930, no. 1858 ;
J. Brassinne, L'orfèvrerie civile liégeoise, Liège, 1935, vol. II, p. 260.

Related literature :
O. de Schaetzen, P. Colman, Orfèvrerie liégeoise, Antwerp, 1976, p. 135, no. 31 ;
P. Colman (dir.), L'orfèvrerie civile ancienne du Pays de Liège, exh. cat. Musée de l'art wallon, Liège, 1991, pp. 79, 84, 89, 90, 92.

In overall good condition.  Each box stamped with very legible marks and an assay scrape. One of the boxes, stamped with a second and later assay scrape, with a thin tear on the upper part of the body, 1.8 cm long.  Each of these boxes with small dents under the base, one with bigger dent. For one of the boxes, the border slightly bumped at two places. Usual scratches commensurate with age. Splendid pieces with very fine quality of matting and embossing. The covers in overall very good condition.Rare set.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Charles was the son of Antoine de Salms, taxes receiver for the Cathedral and States of Liège, and Catherine Gruysen, from a family of tradesmen specialised in trade of weapons and hardware. A few silver pieces bearing the arms of the Salms family are recorded such as a silver tankard, earlier than the present boxes (1650s), by François Knaeps, which is engraved with the accolé arms of Salms and Gruysen families (see O. de Schaetzen, P. Colman, 1976, pp. 114).

Charles Antoine and his wife, Isabelle de Garadette (1659-1697), had an extensive number of descendants and commissioned several pieces to the goldsmith Berthelot Labeen of Lambermont, such as four candlesticks, engraved with the arms of the Salms and Flaveau, on the occasion of the marriage of Marie Catherine de Salms, daughter of Charles Antoine, with Philippe Jacques Flaveau de Henry de la Raudière (cf. P. Colman, op. cit., 1990, 90).

Such embossing with large foliage and flowers on a matted ground is typical in Liège silver production during the reign of Prince-Bishop Jean-Louis d'Elderen (1688-1694), of which Berthelot Labeen of Lambermont is one of the most iconic goldsmiths. See for example a cloth brush, showing an absolutely identical vegetal pattern to our boxes, with comparable dimensions and dating 1702-1703 (fig. 2; length 15.8 cm). Alongside his secular production, Labeen of Lambermont produced sumptuous religious pieces such as the monstrance-reliquaries of the Saints Innocents and Saint Fortunat, in the church of Saint-Nicolas in Liège.