Portrait of Jean-Baptiste Odiot by Robert Lefèvre, 1822
FOUNDED IN 1690, the House of Odiot gained notoriety during the reign of Louis XV with Jean-Baptiste Gaspard Odiot, one of the finest silversmiths of his time.
NAPOLEON and the Empire period opened a glorious chapter in the history of the House of Odiot: the extraordinarily talented Jean-Baptiste Claude, grandson of Jean-Baptiste Gaspard, received many presigious orders from the Emperor and his family, such as the sacred sceptre and sword and the King of Rome's cradle. Immense dinner services were ordered by Pauline Borghèse, by her mother and by the Emperor himself.
INFLUENCED by the return of the antique style with frequent use of silver-gilt, the design of these sumptuous pieces and the virtuosity of their fabrication placed them amongst the best examples of French silverware. The reputation of the House of Odiot thus went far beyond the borders of the Empire and opened doors to all the Courts of Europe.
CHARLES NICOLAS ODIOT, who excelled in the rocaille style, succeeded his father and became the purveyor by appointment to His Majesty the King Louis-Philippe and to the Royal Family of Orleans.
Magasin d'Orfèverie de Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot, tableau par Bouhot, 1820
HE WAS LATER SUCCEEDED by his son Gustave who received the most important command ever to be accepted by the House of Odiot: 3000 pieces of solid gold flatware for Saïd Pacha, the Viceroy of Egypt. He later became the purveyor by appointment to the court of His Imperial Majesty the Tsar. Gustave was also the last member of the Odiot family to preside over the company, a reign spanning over two centuries!
TODAY, Nicolas de La Morinière and Guy Bizot preside over the House of Odiot which continues its prestigeous voyage towards the future: continually creating noble pieces of exceptional technical and artistic quality, the company and its craftsmen remain at the summit of their art...
