A Silver Toiletry Set by Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot in Havana, Cuba

Written By Inna Shablii

Originally published in Silver Magazine (Jan/Feb 2014), this in-depth article by Dr. Karolina Stefanski uncovers the remarkable story of a silver toiletry set crafted by Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot — one of the most celebrated French silversmiths of the 19th century. Now part of the collection of the Napoleon Museum in Havana, Cuba, the set includes two jewelry caskets and a mirror designed in the refined Empire style, once destined for imperial circles.

Drawing from her academic research and direct study of the Havana collection, Stefanski situates this exquisite ensemble within a broader artistic and geopolitical context — tracing its stylistic lineage to the French court, its connection to Empress Marie-Louise, and the influence of notable figures like sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire and painter Pierre-Paul Prud’hon. The article also reveals how similar works are preserved in the Louvre and the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda in Lisbon, highlighting the global footprint of Maison Odiot’s creations.

This exceptional piece of scholarship brings to light the enduring legacy of Odiot and underscores the importance of rediscovering historic silver in unexpected corners of the world.

ilver toiletry set by Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot in Havana, introduced by Karolina Stefanski in Silver Magazine. Features the Napoleon Museum and an overview of the rediscovered gilded mirror and jewelry caskets.
Historical background of Maison Odiot and Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot’s innovation in silver craftsmanship. Details of Havana caskets and their symbolic decorations.
Analysis of gilding and Empire motifs on Havana Odiot toiletry set. Close-up photos of the jewelry caskets showing putti and decorative features.
Description of the psyche de table mirror, inspired by Empress Marie-Louise’s bedroom in Fontainebleau. Photographic detail of the sculpted top and putti.
Empire-style dressing mirror (psyche de table) with intricate gilded bronze decoration by Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot, displayed at the Napoleon Museum in Havana, Cuba.
Engraving from L.C. Soyer’s 1822 publication showing jewelry casket designs created for Empress Marie-Louise, exhibited at the 1819 Louvre Exposition. Stylistic differences between Odiot caskets in Havana, Lisbon, and the Louvre.
Drawing of Empress Marie-Louise’s mirror and Odiot caskets from the Louvre; includes provenance notes and Julio Lobo’s role in preserving Napoleonic silver.
Insights on Julio Lobo’s collection, Maison Odiot’s legacy, and Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot’s handover to Charles-Nicolas Odiot. Photo of Odiot casket.
Full bibliography and notes supporting Karolina Stefanski’s research on the Odiot silver toiletry set featured in Silver Magazine.
Full bibliography and notes supporting Karolina Stefanski’s research on the Odiot silver toiletry set featured in Silver Magazine.

About the Author

Art historian Dr. Karolina Stefanski is an expert in table culture, specializing in European silver. Her doctoral research examined the influence of French Empire style on silver production in Berlin, Warsaw, and Vienna between 1797 and 1848. Her first book based on this subject will be published by Sandstein Verlag, Dresden, in 2025.

She is both an academic author and lifestyle writer, contributing to scholarly journals as well as cultural publications. Karolina also advises private clients and public institutions on collecting silver and offers consulting services related to silverware in the hospitality industry.

She studied in Boston and Warsaw, holds a Master’s degree from the Institut national d’histoire de l’art (INHA, Paris–Sorbonne), and earned her Ph.D. from the Technical University of Berlin.

Inna Shablii
Next

GreenSome Finance Report “Odiot SA – The Revival of a Historic Luxury House”