A silver and cloisonn enamel-mounted leather Desk-folio

MARKED P. OVCHINNIKOV WITH IMPERIAL WARRANT, MOSCOW, 1896-1908

Details

A silver and cloisonn enamel-mounted leather Desk-folio
marked P. Ovchinnikov with Imperial warrant, Moscow, 1896-1908
Rectangular, the blue morocco upper cover applied with a silver plaque decorated with an headpiece of stylized birds with floral and foliate scrolls in pale colours with the inscription ' Monsieur Emile Loubet Prsident de la Rpublique Franaise la Noblesse de Moscou 1902', within border in pale and dark blue and white, the lower cover applied with cornerpieces of foliate sprays around semispherical feet, the interior and blotter lined with blue moir silk, and containing a manuscript document on vellum from the leaders of the Moscow nobility signed by Prince Pierre Troubetzkoi, Count Michel Olsoufieff, Prince Serge Mastschersky, Prince Paul Dolgoroukoff and another, marked on upper mount, in the original red silk and velvet lined box, the cover stamped in Russian 'Court Manufacturer P. Ovchinnikov of silver and jewelled wares Moscow' with Imperial warrant
16 x 12.5/8in. (42.5 x 32cm.)

Literature

Niva, no. 20, St.Petersburg, 1902, illustrated

Lot Essay

Emile Loubet (1838-1929) studied Law at Paris and established himself at Montelimar, of which city he was mayor from 1870-1899. He was a moderate republican deputy 1876-85, senator 1885-99, Minister of Public Works 1887-88, President of the Council 1892, Minister of the Interior 1892-93 and as such one of the signatories of the Franco-Russian alliance. His fall was caused by the Panama Canal crisis. Elected President of the Senate in 1896, he succeeded F. Faure as President of France (1899-1906). It was he who pardoned Dreyfus in 1904. His presidency was marked by anti-clerical politics and intense diplomatic activity; the visit to France by Nicholas II of Russia (1901), Edward VII of England and Victor-Emmanuele III of Italy (1903) and Alfonso XIII of Spain (1905); and his visits to Russia (1902), London (1903) and Rome (1904, all of which strengthed the Entente Cordiale.

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