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Lot Essay
The C couronné poinçon was a tax mark employed in France between March 1745 and February 1749 on any alloy containing copper.
This charming fontaine à parfum would probably have contained perfumed water such as rose water to refresh one's hands before or after dining. It is inspired by the amusing confections created by the luxury goods dealers in Paris, the marchand-merciers, combining ormolu mounts and oriental porcelain to form novel creations. A similar fontaine in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is illustrated in C. Sargentson, Merchants and Luxury Markets, London, 1996, p. 67, colour plate 11. A closely related fontaine from the collection of Luigi Anton Laura was offered Sotheby's/Poulain le Fur, Paris, 27 June 2001.
This charming fontaine à parfum would probably have contained perfumed water such as rose water to refresh one's hands before or after dining. It is inspired by the amusing confections created by the luxury goods dealers in Paris, the marchand-merciers, combining ormolu mounts and oriental porcelain to form novel creations. A similar fontaine in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is illustrated in C. Sargentson, Merchants and Luxury Markets, London, 1996, p. 67, colour plate 11. A closely related fontaine from the collection of Luigi Anton Laura was offered Sotheby's/Poulain le Fur, Paris, 27 June 2001.