The circular base on four openwork scroll feet cast with foliage, the centre applied with a bull, ram, ewe, scythe, plough and wheat, the foliate scroll and urn stem with circular bowl above, chased with four agricultural vignettes, LABOURAGE, PATURAGE, MOISSON, VENDANGE, surmounted by the figure of Ceres on drum-shaped plinth engraved DÉCERNÉE A CHARLES BELBÉOCH EN 1868 / CONCOURS RÉGIONAL AGRICOLE DE QUIMPER, the border of the bowl inscribed MINISTERE DE L'AGRICULTURE ET DU COMMERCE MDCCCLXVIII, the base engraved CHRISTOFLE FT. 1868, fully marked with Minerve
26³⁄₈ in. (67 cm.) high
296 oz. 7 dwt. (9,219 gr.)

Awarded to Charles Belbéoch (1828-1878), farmer and mayor of Pouldergat, Finistère, Brittany at the Quimper Regional Agricultural Competition in 1868.

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Lot Essay

This model of agricultural trophy was commissioned by the French Minister of Agriculture in 1860 following the founding of Napoleon III's agricultural competitions, which were designed to foster growth in agriculture, then France's most important industry, a tradition that continued until the First World War.

Christofle produced the model for this trophy in collaboration with the sculptor Eugène Capy (1829-1894) for the figure of Ceres and Pierre Louis Rouillard (1820-1881) for the relief vignettes. The prototype for the trophy was displayed at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, where it was hugely admired. After this date, Christofle manufactured one each year for every participating towns (see H. Bouilhet, 150 Ans d'Orfèvrerie, Christofle, Silversmith since 1830, Paris, 1981, pp. 178-80). Another trophy, also dated 1868, made for the city of Châlons was sold at Aste Bolaffi, Turin, 23 November 2023, lot 332. The 1862 example was presented to the Musée d'Orsay in 2013 by the Friends of the Musée d'Orsay in memory Édouard, Comte de Ribes (1923-2013), President of the Society of Friends of the Musée d'Orsay from 1990 to 2013.