French Silver in the J. Paul Getty Museum

French Silver in the J. Paul Getty Museum is vividly illustrated and presents the first comprehensive catalogue of the J. Paul Getty Museum's celebrated collection of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century French silver.

The collection at the J. Paul Getty Museum is of exceptional quality and state of preservation. Each item is noteworthy for its beauty, inventive form, skillful execution, illustrious provenance, and the renown of its maker. This volume provides the first complete study of these exquisite objects, featuring more than 250 colour photographs that highlight extraordinary details such as minuscule makers' marks, inscriptions, and heraldic armorials.

The publication outlines the formation of the Museum's collection of French silver, including several pieces selected by J. Paul Getty himself, and discusses the regulations of the historic Parisian guild of gold- and silversmiths, which set quality controls and consumer protections. Comprehensive entries catalogue a total of thirty-three pieces, complete with descriptions, provenance, exhibition history, and technical information. Related commentaries illuminate the function of these objects and the roles they played in the daily lives of their prosperous owners. The book also includes maker biographies and a full bibliography.

The free online edition of this open-access publication is available at getty.edu/publications/french-silver/ and includes 360-degree views and zoomable high-resolution photography. Additionally, free PDF and EPUB downloads of the book are available, as well as JPG downloads of the main catalogue images.