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429
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ITEM FROM A PEN HOLDER SET FEATURING THE COAT OF ARMS OF PRI…
See original version (French)
429
-
ITEM FROM A PEN HOLDER SET FEATURING THE COAT OF ARMS OF PRI…
See original version (French)
Estimate €4,000 - €6,000
Voluntary lot
Description
ITEM FROM A PEN HOLDER SET
FEATURING THE COAT OF ARMS OF PRINCE ANATOLE DEMIDOFF.
By FOSSIN and MOREL, Paris, c. 1835–1838.
In finely chiselled vermeil, decorated with a neo-Gothic architectural element
depicting a reclining angel leaning on his elbow,
symbolising Study, surmounted by six polychrome enamel escutcheons
depicting the coats of arms of the cities of Moscow,
St Petersburg and Perm, the imperial nobility and
the double-headed eagle of Imperial Russia, framed by two
columns adorned with a frieze of foliage in blue champlevé polychrome enamel,
crowned by two praying angels
flanking the full coat of arms of Prince Anatole Demidoff. The
lower section is decorated with stylised elements in
hardstone marquetry, comprising white marble, aventurine,
lapis lazuli and bloodstone.
Hallmark: boar’s head (950/1000), and hare’s head
(1819–1838).
Silversmith’s mark: Jean-Baptiste Fossin (1786–1848).
Stonework: Jean-Valentin Morel (1794–1860).
Minor imperfections; the receptacle is missing, but in good overall condition.
H: 23 cm – W: 13.5 cm.
Gross weight: 1 kg 395 g.
History: this high-quality piece was created by the House of Fossin (later
Chaumet) in collaboration with a 19th-century master gem-setter, Jean-Valentin
Morel, for Prince Anatole Demidoff (1812–1870), First Prince of San
Donato, around 1840, probably at the time of his marriage to Princess
Mathilde Bonaparte, whom he had married the previous year.
Reference: it is interesting to compare this piece with the very similar model
— featuring a few variations in the decoration — of the penholder created by the same goldsmith for
Prince Robert d’Orléans, Duke of Chartres (1840–1910), illustrated in the work
by Henri Vever, ‘La bijouterie française au XIXe siècle’, TI, page 145. See
reproduction below.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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