Silversmith
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L’Orfèvre | The Silversmith
An orfèvre, or silversmith, is normally a manufacturer of jewelry, religious objects, and gold and silver tableware. In New France, however, the silversmith manufactured mainly sacred vessels made of precious metals for churches and monasteries . More specifically, he made chalices and ciborias, monstrances, burettes and trays, censers and shuttles, processional crosses, solid silver candlesticks, holy water sprinklers, sanctuary lamps, vases for oils, collection plates or plates intended to carry wedding ceremony rings. Domestic silverware during this period was rare. It would appear that the higher class households during the French Regime were well-stocked with everyday silverware: forks and spoons, stew ladles, tasting spoons, bowls, goblets, plates, jugs and jars. However, most of these items were for common use; they weren't luxury items.
In 1744, there were only 8 silversmiths in Québec and 5 in Montreal. By the end of the 18th century, there were at least 40 silversmiths in the colony. Canadians no longer needed to import silverware from France, with the exception of rare gifts.
The silversmith’s workshop ("Orfèvre grossier, ouvrages", drawing (artist unknown) appearing in the 1765 Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, Wikimedia Commons).
Known persons who had the occupation of silversmith: Laurent Amiot, Guillaume Beaudry dit Desbuttes, François Chambelland, Michel Coton, Ignace Delezenne, Charles François Delique, Jean-Baptiste Detchevery dit Maisonbasse, Jacques Gadois dit Mauger, Nicolas Gaudin dit Lapoterie, Jacques Gosselin, James Hanna, Jean-Baptiste Laigu dit Lanoue, Paul Lambert, Jean-Baptiste Landeron, Jean-François Landron, François Lefebvre, Jean LeSeigneur, Michel Levasseur, Joseph Mailloux, Guillaume Pagé, Jacques Pagé dit Quercy, Joseph Pagé dit Quercy, François Palin dit Dabonville, Roland Paradis, Alexandre Picard, François Ranvoizé, Paul-Alexandre Vallée
Known persons who had the occupation of master silversmith: Ignace Delezenne, Joseph Mailloux, Roland Paradis, François Ranvoizé
Meet modern-day Danish silversmith Jesper Nordø:
Source: H. Schwarz, "Les orfèvres de la Nouvelle France", Vie des arts (1961), volume (24), 39–43; electronic edition, Érudit (https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/va/1961-n24-va1207434/55182ac.pdf).