Thread: As per requested: Cardeilhac, Paris, circa 1815

A few months ago, I called for help because these razors disappeared on their way to the best French old razors restorer.
As promised, and as a thanks for the help at the time, here are the pictures

And here is what achieved to hook me at the time, these symbols represent Love ("Amour"), faithfulness (the dog) and the gift of frienship ("Don d'amitié")





Please mind that I deem myself not worthy of these razors, I would like you all not to make me uncomfortable in the comments.
In the event of my demise, they will be offered to a museum.

I don't know what would make you uncomfortable, but these are rare, beautiful and functional.....I for one am extremely thankful that you posted the pics of razors that otherwise I may never get a chance to see. I think it is an honorable act to offer these to a museum. They definitely look like they would be at home in one. It seems that there were multiple craftsman engaged to make these extraordinary razors. Again, just looking at these is a privilege. Merci
I may have seen these at an auction site some time ago but the pics did not do them justice, yours have.

Those are pretty spectacular. I can't imagine having those. A museum is the place for those when you are satisfied with your time with them.

Beautiful specimens. I feel you are indeed worthy!

Amazing historical pieces.

STUNNING . . .

I would really like to know the back story of the relationship between the original giver and receiver considering those 3 symbols. Thank you for posting photos of those 2 stunningly beautiful pieces of art.

Bob

Chef d'oeuvre!

Originally Posted by BobH

I would really like to know the back story of the relationship between the original giver and receiver considering those 3 symbols.

As I imagine you would, we seem to often have the same points of interest

Well, at least, I can give some little background on their origins. And I'll start by giving kuddos to a good analysis

Originally Posted by WW243

It seems that there were multiple craftsman engaged to make these extraordinary razors.

I concur. Maybe 2 or 3 of them.

Cardeilhac was initially a smith/cutler, who founded his business in 1804 at 4, rue du Roule, Paris. I will spare you the details of all his merits and medals, but he has been described as a pioneer for the French cutlery, and some involvement with the higher tiers of the government.
According to Renzo Jardella, his most prized pieces were sold in the "Arcades du Palais Royal" which were recently recently remodelled and said remodelling was financed by selling leases to shops for the nobility who frequented the French court at the time (a time called "the restoration", that is France going back to a monarchy after Napoleon for a few years).
He then moved to being a silversmith, among other things.

As for the scales, I tend to think that there was at the time a scales maker who provided several prestigious cutlers. Such scales are easy to identify, as they are always made from high end materials, have "helmets" instead of a wedge, most of the time a shield in the middle, and, in some cases such as here a screw mechanism which was the best you could do at the time (the screw even has a light blue tint).
AFAIK there are 3 known shapes for the helmets : an actual helmet, leaves like here, and I seem to recall a Lyon from somewhere.

The medallions, in my humble opinion, require another kind of technique. If I can imagine Cardeilhac being able to produce the scales, such work is another thing altogether.
So yeah, 2 to 3 persons.