BY AUGUSTIN-ANDRÉ HÉGUIN (FL. 1785-1822), MARKED, WITH THE PARISIAN POST-REVOLUTIONARY UNOFFICIAL THIRD STANDARD MARK FOR 18-CARAT GOLD AND THE PARISIAN RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARK FOR GOLD 1809-1819, THE FLANGE ENGRAVED WITH RETAILER'S NAME 'PITAUX BIJ.R DE S.A.R. M.GR LE DUC DE BERY.'

The initials are those of Charles-Ferdinand of Bourbon, Duke of Berry (1778-1820). For a miniature depicting him and an account of his life, see lot 127. The name of the retailer, Pitaux, may be related to the goldsmith J. Pitaux who is recorded as working in Paris 1811-1822. Henri Vever (French Jewelry of the Nineteenth Century, London, 2001, p. 56) mentions that Pitaux had premises in Paris at 65, rue Vivienne at the sign of the Corbeille Galante which sold elegant wedding gifts for the corbeille, a basket traditionally containing a gift, anything from flowers to wedding presents. Since the 18th century, the corbeilles of Bourbon princesses to be married contained gold boxes, and it is possible that the present box was part of the corbeille of the duchess of Berry in 1816.