Ultimately derived from antique prototypes, these athénienne's or brûle-parfums are clearly inspired by Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine's design for 'Une athénienne', which was first published in their Recueil des Décorations Intérieures of 1801. Probably executed by Thomire Duterme et cie., they are of closely related design to the pair sold anonymously in these Rooms, 10 December 1992, lot 26, as well as to those sold at Sotheby's Zurich, 24 November 1993, lot 210.