No sooner had I parked the car and walked into the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino, and whilst still on the telephone with Gini (my mother-in-law), I found a couple of glass cases containing fabulous silver pieces! The Silver Legacy is appropriately named…
I loved all of the late-Georgian/Regency and Victorian eras’ repoussé collected here ~ tea sets, watering pitchers, and other silver beauties tucked into this 6′ x 6′ glass case!
I did find online that repoussé had a resurgence in the 19th century. Repoussée was crafted as early as 4000 years ago!
History of Repoussé
The origins of repoussé trace back over 4,000 years to ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. However, the technique has experienced major revivals in fashion and decorative arts:
- The Renaissance (16th–17th Centuries): European artisans extensively used repoussé in fine jewelry and decorative objects.
- The Rococo Period (18th Century): The technique saw a massive surge in popularity for silverware, vessels, and household objects.
- The 19th Century: In the United States, “Baltimore repoussé” emerged in 1828 and became a hallmark of wealthy dining rooms. Later in the 1840s, repoussé and chasing became a staple in European jewelry trends under the heavy, romantic influence of Queen Victoria.
from Google AI and Flower Magazine.
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Fun fact: In order to achieve that cranberry or ruby red color in crystal, one has to throw gold into the glass as it is being fired. My sister-in-love Linnea told me about this years ago. Very cool!
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Gini was still about 45 minutes away, stuck in traffic coming into downtown Reno, Nevada. I had arrived that Wednesday morning and had fun walking around a park in Sparks, Nevada before heading over to the Silver Legacy.
While I waited, I was able to walk around the ground floor near the check-in counter and enjoy the exquisite crystal and silver on display ~ a definite nod to Nevada’s silver rushes which began in the late 1850’s:
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Significant silver was first found in Nevada in the late 1850s, sparking the state’s famous silver rushes. The defining moment was the public revelation of the Comstock Lode near present-day Virginia City in June 1859, which became the first major silver discovery in the United States. [The Comstock Lode was actually found in 1858, per this editor.]
Silver Mining in Nevada, Wikipedia
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In addition to silver pieces, the Silver Legacy has exquisite French antiques throughout its main floors. The Napoleonic era’s furnishings (1800 – 1815) have the distinction of being named “Empire.” Appropriate for an empirical ruler, don’t you think?
I couldn’t even photograph all of the commodes as people were always sitting around them, lol!
(Don’t they know those beauties are mine??). I did finally get to take that commode’s photograph, as you will see farther down. 😉
On one, I pulled open the drawer and indeed, they are actual French pieces. The inside was kind of falling apart; however, the outside was perfect. That smaller piece was off away from the staff and just sitting all alone, so I didn’t get yelled at by anyone, nor was I intending to hurt the piece. I was checking the provenance, though.
How they got here, whether designers just brought them in because of their fine silver and gold leaf gilding or what? Or if they have been here since the resort opened in 1895, who knows?
I forgot to ask around while I was there … 🙁
They are indeed originals and I would have gladly taken any of these lovelies home inside of my truck! The suitcase, hanging clothes, and other gear would gladly have gone into the truck bed to make room for a new commode… 😉
The use of acanthus leaves and neoclassical designs are what define pieces as being from the Empire period.
Okay, just for giggles… I found a pair of Louis XVI marquetry commodes…
Just GUESS how much they are showing for?
$198,500…. But you can make an offer… (I almost fainted!)
I finally did get the photograph I was trying to take, on our last morning at the hotel as I went to get hot water in my thermos for tea.
Whether this is Louis XV, Louis XVI or Empire, it is simply beautiful… I love the roses and large swags draping down the drawers and the inlaid wood in the drawer middles. Just lovely!
I finally found out the answer to my questions of how did these pieces get to the Silver Legacy:
The owners and developers of the casino—specifically the Carano family—worked closely with specialized interior designers and antique scouts to furnish the Victorian- and mining-themed resort. They sourced these 19th-century antiques from various high-end importers and antique merchants along the West Coast to match the lavish, European-influenced style that was popular in wealthy San Francisco mansions during the Comstock Lode era.
Google AI and Wikipedia
Ask the right questions and voilà the answers magically appear!
It makes sense that the Silver Legacy Resort would want to emulate the lavishness of wealthy Californians during the big silver rushes. I just hope they didn’t pay $198,000 for each one of those pieces…
That’s a lot of buckaroos which could have gone to casino winners! 😉
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A bientôt,
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These pieces are so elegant! Did you know these were on display when you booked the hotel? Because oh, what a wonderful find! Thanks for your descriptions as well as the terrific photos.