- 77
A porphyry snuff box with gilt-metal mounts, German, late 18th / early 19th century
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- A porphyry snuff box with gilt-metal mounts, German, late 18th / early 19th century
- porphyry, gold
- 8.8cm., 3 1/2 in. wide
of rounded rectangular form, openwork laurel wreath thumbpiece
Provenance
Famille de Montesquieu;
thence by descent
Enclosed within the box is a torn scrap of paper inscribed: ' 'Je sertifie avoir ramasser / se morsau de planche [ ... ...] lequel Napoleon et mor / ainsi que le cipres que j'ai ramasser / au tombeau dans mon [bagage / voyage] a bord de l'Atlantique pilote[...] / la tout ramasé le 5 juin 1837', signed R Bailly. Unfortunately the relics have long been mislaid and only the testimony remains. Napoleon had died and was buried on the south Atlantic island of Saint-Helena, where he had been exiled following his defeat at Waterloo, in 1821. Despite the distance, his tomb became an object of pilgrimage for both British and French visitors until the body was exhumed and transferred to Les Invalides in 1840.
thence by descent
Enclosed within the box is a torn scrap of paper inscribed: ' 'Je sertifie avoir ramasser / se morsau de planche [ ... ...] lequel Napoleon et mor / ainsi que le cipres que j'ai ramasser / au tombeau dans mon [bagage / voyage] a bord de l'Atlantique pilote[...] / la tout ramasé le 5 juin 1837', signed R Bailly. Unfortunately the relics have long been mislaid and only the testimony remains. Napoleon had died and was buried on the south Atlantic island of Saint-Helena, where he had been exiled following his defeat at Waterloo, in 1821. Despite the distance, his tomb became an object of pilgrimage for both British and French visitors until the body was exhumed and transferred to Les Invalides in 1840.
Condition
overall excellent condition
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
For a group of hardstone and gold or gilt-metal snuff boxes, also unmarked, some with the same openwork thumbpiece, see Sotheby's Munich, Schmuck und Silber, Porzellan und Pretiosen aus europäischen Fürstenhäusern, 8 & 9 December 1999, lot 498-500, 504, 513, 523-525.