Charles-Nicholas Odiot
Charles-Nicolas Odiot (died 1869) was the outstanding French silversmith of his generation; the son of Napoleon's silversmith, Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot, he inherited the direction of the extensive family workshops in 1827, as techniques of factory production were extended in the trade. He excelled in the revived Rococo style, and became the purveyor by appointment to Louis-Philippe of France and to other members of the family of Orléans.
He was succeeded in turn by his son Gustave, who received the most ambitious command ever to be accepted by the House of Odiot: 3,000 pieces of solid gold tableware for Saïd Pasha, Viceroy of Egypt. He later became the purveyor by appointment to the court of the Tsar. Gustave was also the last member of the Odiot family to preside over the company, which continues in business today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Nicolas_Odiot accessed 3/11/2019
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 SPLENDOR OF EMPIRE period marked the beginning of a glorious chapter for the House of Odiot.
Directed by the extraordinarily talented Jean-Baptiste Claude, Jean Baptiste Gaspard’s grandson, Odiot received many prestigious orders from the Emperor and his family, such as Napoleon’s coronation sword and scepter, the magnificent cradle for the King of Rome, immense dinner services for Napoleon’s mother, and his sister Pauline Borghèse, and the Emperor’s campaign dinner service.
THE VIRTUOSITY OF ODIOT’S CREATIONS at this time, heavily influenced by the return of the antique style, and the frequent use of silver-gilt, unquestionably place them amongst the best examples of French silverware. Odiot’s reputation spread far beyond the borders of the Empire to all the Courts of Europe.
CHARLES NICOLAS ODIOT excelled in the revived rocaille style, and experimented with many new techniques, such as electroplating, which he brought back from England in 1824. He inherited the direction of Odiot in 1825 and was purveyor of silverware by appointment to His Majesty the King Louis-Philippe and to the Royal Family of Orleans.
CHARLES-NICOLAS was succeeded by his son Gustave who received the most largest order ever placed with the House of Odiot: 3,000 pieces of solid gold flatware for Saïd Pacha, the Viceroy of Egypt. Gustave later became the purveyor by appointment to the court of His Imperial Majesty the Tsar. He was the last member of the Odiot family to direct the company, which had been in the family for over two centuries!
http://odiot.com/en/category/history/ accessed 3/11/2019
