A FINE EMPIRE VARI-COLOUR GOLD COMBINED NECESSAIRE AND DOUBLE-SNUFF BOX

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY

Details

A FINE EMPIRE VARI-COLOUR GOLD COMBINED NECESSAIRE AND DOUBLE-SNUFF BOX
PROBABLY FRENCH, CIRCA 1809, THE INSTURMENTS PORTUGUESE, POSSIBLY EARLIER

Of oval section, richly chased and engraved, the central panel with two hinged covers decorated in relief with armorial trophies, within two bands of stars, the reverse with an allegorical scene showing Victory holding a sword in one hand and clasping the pillar of Fortitude and Constancy with her other arm, surrounded by further armorial trophies with an encampment in the distance, figures of Medusa holding a torch and Melpomene with the mask of tragedy fleeing to either side, the sides with torches, scrolling foliage and rosettes and a central laurel wreath containing on one side an owl and on the other a lyre, each end with a border of vari-colour gold scrolling foliage, flowers and pellets between beading, the domed covers to each end with portrait busts of 'Socrates' and 'Aristides' surrounded by Latin inscriptions, with a border of stars and scrolls on a stippled ground, enclosing at one end a perpetual calender with silver dial numbered up to 31 days, the days of the week engraved in Portuguese, engraved numerals, dial rotated by a rack gearing, surrounded by pen and gold-mounted pencil, probe now missing with a universal handle, the other end with a compass, the silver dial signed 'J.P. Adour' and inscribed Trem Real de Pernam.^o, small chip to domed glass, with edge-bar needle and jewelled cap on pivot, together with folding gold-mounted ivory rule, with three scales, two inscribed 'Balal' the other 'Bocas', and a pair of gold compasses, engraved with a presentation inscription along one side, apparently unmarked
6 5/8in. (17cm.) long

Provenance

The Rt. Hon The Earl of Lonsdale, sold Christie's, 5 March 1947, lot 164, (£480 to Papier)

Lot Essay

The presentation inscription reads 'DONNE PAR S.M. AU GÉNÉRAL KOSAKOWSKI. 1809'

Jósef Antoni Kossakowski (1772-1842) had served in the Polish-Lithuanian army until the third partition of Poland in 1794, when he emigrated to France. There he met Mmes. de Genlis and de Stael, and eventually Napoleon. After the creation of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw in 1807, and on Napoleon's second incursion into Poland in 1809, Kossakowski was promoted to Brigade General in the Lithuanian Corps and aide-de-camp on the Imperial Staff. He accompanied the invasion of Russia and the retreat, fighting in many of the major battles of that campaign. He was at Fontainbleau when Napoleon abdicated and wished to accompany the Emperor into exile on Elba. Having received numerous medals during his campaigns he returned to Lithuania, declining to serve on the staff of Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, the govenor of the Grand Duchy, and died at Lukonie in 1842.

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