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an ornate silver box with a plaque on it that says,ornate silver box on white background with clipping for texta silver box with a handle and a handle on it
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Premium Maître Guillaume CHEROYAN

A rectangular box in silver and vermeil with a scalloped edg…
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Estimate €800 - €1,000
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Description
A rectangular box in silver and vermeil with a scalloped edge, richly decorated with scrollwork; the lid forms a cartouche bearing the inscription in English: ‘Presented to Capt. Ponthier, commander of the Royal French Navy. STEAM SHIP CAMELION. by the Shipping Association of the Port of Dartmouth and the Owners of the ENGLISH SCHOONER MERMAID, as a trifling token of appreciation for his generous conduct in assisting her free of charge into Toulon, when she was completely dismasted off that port on 17 January, 1842.” which we may translate into French as: “ Presented to Captain Ponthier, Commander of the Royal French Navy steamship Camelion, by the Dartmouth Port Shipowners’ Association and the owners of the ENGLISH SCHOONER MERMAID, as a humble token of gratitude for his generous conduct, for having graciously assisted her to Toulon, whilst she was completely dismasted off that port on 17 January 1842. ’, England, 19th century, Master Goldsmith Nathaniel MILLS (1746–1843), Dimensions: 2.8 x 9.8 x 7 cm Background: On 17 January 1842, an English merchant schooner named the Mermaid, originating from the port of Dartmouth (Devon, England), found itself caught in a violent storm off the French coast. The vessel sustained heavy damage and was left completely demasted, adrift, unable to manoeuvre and in grave danger of sinking. French Captain Ponthier, in command of the Royal French Navy’s steam warship *Le Caméléon* (*Steam Ship Camelion*), came across the distressed schooner. Instead of leaving it to its fate or demanding substantial salvage fees, Captain Ponthier showed great nobility: he voluntarily and free of charge took the English schooner in tow to bring it safely to shelter in the port of Toulon. The Dartmouth Shipowners’ Association, wishing to honour a commander of the French Royal Navy, commissioned the prestigious workshop of Nathaniel Mills in Birmingham, recognised at the time as the finest silversmith in the whole of the United Kingdom.
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About the sale In preparation. Catalogue sale: Furniture and Works of Art
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 11:00 AM
Lot description modified on 09/17/2026 at 11:32 AM
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