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Lot Essay
Henry Nocq (Le poinçon de Paris, Paris, 1927, II, p. 233) mentions the list of items made by Jean-Claude Genu between 1772 and 1777, including bracelets, snuff-boxes, oval boxes, bathtub boxes (boîtes en baignoires) - which probably refers to the present type of narrow oblong boxes -, in vari-colour gold, but also cane handles and needle cases. Among the names of his clients one can read that of Granchet [sic], the mercier of Au Petit Dunkerque.
Carolyn Sargentson (Merchants and Luxury Markets, London, 1996, pp. 119-127) gives an excellent account on Charles Raymond Granchez, the celebrated marchand mercier whose shop flourished between 1767 and 1787 at 3 quai de Conti at the corner of the rue Dauphine. She illustrates an extremely similar snuff-box from the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum (op. cit., p. 124, pl. 72) with identical retailer's name on the flange. She points out that Granchez obviously stocked ones which reflected current fashions and 'successful' models. For another box from this shop, see lot 906.
Carolyn Sargentson (Merchants and Luxury Markets, London, 1996, pp. 119-127) gives an excellent account on Charles Raymond Granchez, the celebrated marchand mercier whose shop flourished between 1767 and 1787 at 3 quai de Conti at the corner of the rue Dauphine. She illustrates an extremely similar snuff-box from the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum (op. cit., p. 124, pl. 72) with identical retailer's name on the flange. She points out that Granchez obviously stocked ones which reflected current fashions and 'successful' models. For another box from this shop, see lot 906.