Eugène Fontenay was one of the most technically gifted of the French 19th Century goldsmiths, following the business of his father and grandfather. After an apprenticeship with Marchand Ainé and Dutreih, he set up his own workshop in 1847 and between 1858-1867 received commissions from prominent figures such as the Viceroy of Egypt, the Shah of Persia and the King of Siam. He devoted his latter years to scholarship and writing drawing on his deep knowledge of the history of jewellery. His best known volume Les Bijoux anciens et modernes was published in 1887, the year of his death. It is interesting to see the retailer's name Froment-Meurice associated with these pieces underlining the close relationship between these top jewellers