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VR Antique French Palais Royal Napoleon Era Necessaire, 36+ pc

$6,995List Price

About the Item

This is such a rare find, and such a stunning glimpse into late 1700s life of a French officer, likely one of Napoleon's officers, the case is a field or traveler's necessaire from "Garnesson", a boutique at the famed Palais Royal of Paris (the old Richelieu Palace, center of commerce and entertainment for Royals and titled, then Napoleon his entourage). It is not only when I book myself into a French hotel that I am stunned at the compactness of the Paris lifestyle. When you realize it is actually a long-lived art of the French to pack an incredible amount of necessities into a very small space, that you can fully appreciate the 'necessaire' kits such as this one. Just about everything you can imagine having need of is here, layered in layer upon layer, each piece in its own fitted compartment, one fitting inside the next - nested trays of vanity and drawing/writing tools, and even a porcelain saucer and cup for coffee. There are more than 36 pieces in this nearly complete compendium (the English word for such a treasure box), including French marked sterling silver capped perfume/cologne bottles, and cups/glasses for drinking and for storing coffee,a nd two inkwells and a seal for sealing documents, letters. Also in sterling are the eye-wash cup and the funnel, the thinble and the teaspoon. The marks are the old ones, and we'd date this set to late 1700s, perhaps barely into 1800s. Included small items in ivory (less than 5% of the case/contents so within listing guidelines), the ivory trimmed out in 18k yellow gold. The ivory pieces include a pen with cap and storage for nibs; a bodkin case that doubles as a perpetual calendar; a needle case, a crochet tambor hook, a tooth scaling intrument, a paper-scraper (erasure), a folding ruler and the dip cap for an ebony snuff bottle, as well as the handle for the seal. Two pocket knives still in their perfectly fitted spaces have mother of pearl handles. There is a horn-handled toothbrush with boar bristles, an ebony tool we're not certain of, as well as 2 ebony containers that open to reveal thread spools in each (multiple colors of thread can be wound to each one by section). Steel hook for hanging the old mirror, which is also original, by the way and not a later replacement, and steel tweezer/ear wax spoon combination tool. And finally, there is a shell moustache comb and a shell tool used for toothpick and ear wax spoon combo. All but the scissors shown are original to the case. And the one pair of scissors in place, while not the original, is from the same period. The mystery item is the little pear which opens to reveal a tiny perfume flask, and it may not be original, either. The lock has a working key, and the interior is in superb condition, as you see it, for age and type. Misses only a couple of tiny triangle spacer pieces to the right hand side, which we'll do our best to remake and fit if our buyer requests it. The interior fittings are superbly made, and remarkably well preserved. You will find Napoleon's necessaire in the Louvre apartments, the Louvre, Paris. And you will find Josephine's in her residence, Malmaison, west of Paris, each worth a trip to these museums to see. For ours, the silversmith is Francois-Dominique NAUDIN, 1800-1840, and the marks tell us this was made no later than 1809, so dating 1800 - 1809, in Paris. Napoleon was at the height of his reign as Emperor, and expanding the reach of the French Republic ever broader, in this amazing moment in history - and this case was part of it all.

Very good to excellent for age and type. So rare to find one of these Officer's necessaire in such complete condition. The old wooden box is rosewood and is stunning! The lock works and the key fits, but is not the original. In fact, I will tell you that the previous owner, lacking a key and, pardon me, but too stupid to take it to a locksmith, tore the box's bottom off and broke it all apart in order to see what was inside. A Sacrilege, absolutely! It has been a labor of love for me and for Rick to return it to its stunning state, and what a joy it is to behold again, now. I will point out the few flaws. There is a repaired break to the handle of the tea cup (note Napoleon's bees in the gold motifs, by the way). Missing one pair of scissors and the small set included are not the original. Missing a bodkin. One outer ring of ivory trim for the top of one of the spool holders (ebony) is missing. The brass trim on the base of the box, itself is a replacement, and there is a small amount of wood fill backing it at the base (previous owner tore it apart, remember, and did not retain the brass). some disruption to the paper trim border that frames in the original mirror. These flaws are minor in a case this old, but bear mention. Were it pristine, perfect, it would bring upwards of $15,000 in Paris markets, and even as it is, this one is a miraculous find, a superb investment. Four of the tools are inlaid and trimmed out in 18k gold. Even the original silk pad remains with the case, as shown in our photos. The set is simply stunning! Measurements in photos, along with a list in old French noting the items within. Additional photos upon request: please email.

Dimensions:
Height: 4.325 in (10.99 cm)Width: 10.325 in (26.23 cm)Depth: 6.75 in (17.15 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Ebony,Glass,Ivory,Mother-of-Pearl,Porcelain,Silk,Steel
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
18th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
1800-1809
Condition:
Noted in detail in description above.
Seller Location:
South Coast, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: 1011palais1stDibs: U111026918126

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