Tabatière en or de trois couleurs par Pierre-Innocent Zurich, Paris, 1784

ovale, le couvercle orné d'un médaillon central ciselé d'un trophée de jardinage, sur un fond amati,  le fond guilloché de striures et semis de pois, les bordures perlées, poinçon de maître, charge et décharge d'Henri Clavel, Paris, 1784

oval, the lid with a central oval medallion chased with a gardening trophy, on a matted ground, on pellet-strewn reeding within bead borders, maker's mark, charge and discharge marks of Henri Clavel, Paris, 1784

Clean crisp condition; some light scratching and two small dents visible on interior of lid but not visible on the exterior; an irregularity on the rim slows but does not impede the closing of the box and there is an almost imperceptible nick on the base rim on right hand side.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Il n'existe que très peu d'éléments biographiques concernant Pierre-Innocent Zurich. Il devint apprenti le 11 janvier 1769 auprès de Jean-Charles Bailly, qui connut une carrière en dents de scie  n'accédant  lui-même à la maîtrise que quelques jours avant, le 24 Decembre 1768, et dès juin 1770 était reporté comme absent par les gardes. On se sait s'il a quitté Paris définitivement, à ce moment-là, mais après la séparation avec sa femme qui fut annoncée en 1777, il est mentionné comme vivant 'en province' en 1781. Zurich a probablement dû faire transférer son apprentissage auprès d'un autre maître, et en 1780, il fut cautionné par le célèbre fabricant de boîtes Pierre Mathis de Beaulieu. L'atelier de Zurich fut successivement installé quai des Orfèvres jusqu'en 1783 puis quai de l' Horloge jusqu'en 1793. Nombre de tabatières en or, semblables au lot offert, sont connues.

 

Very few biographical details are available concerning Pierre-Innocent Zurich. He was apprenticed on 11 January 1769 to Jean-Charles Bailly who seems to have enjoyed quite a chequered career. Bailly had become master himself only days earlier on 24 December 1768 and by June 1770 was declared absent by the guards. Whether he had left Paris definitively is moot but his separation from his wife was announced in 1777 and by 1781 he was reported as living 'en province'. It must be presumed that Zurich was obliged to transfer his apprenticeship to another master and in 1780, he was sponsored for mastership by the prestigious boxmaker Pierre Mathis de Beaulieu. He is subsequently recorded as working on the quai des Orfèvres until 1783 and then quai des Horloges until 1793. A number of his gold boxes, in similar style to the present example, are recorded.