Francois Couquaux

(Active 1870s - 1880s) 

La Maison Couquaux, or House of Couquaux was founded by Francois-Theophile Couquaux at 402, Rue St.-Honore Paris. The firm was active in the 1870s and 1880s. Not much is known about this silversmith and goldsmith, except that he was warmly admired for the quality of his figural works and religious objects in the last decades of the 19th century.

According to his contemporaries, Couquaux usually exhibited only a small number of pieces, but these pieces were distinguished by the elegance of the shape and the perfection of carving. Couquaux specialized in finely crafted and engraved silver tableware, services, serving trays and jewellery in the Gothic and the Renaissance Revival styles.

His works were exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1878 where he was awarded a silver medal behind only Cardeilhac. 

Couquaux pieces were hallmarked with "FC" and a little star. Due to the selective approach of the master and thanks to the exquisite quality and unique designs, the small number of Couquaux silver and gold pieces have become a rare find for collectors all over the world.