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Lot Essay
Though archival documentation attributes the gilt-tooled leather of
this coffer to the Libraire de l'Université de Paris et Relieur du Roy Nicolas Ève (d. 1581), stylistic dating most likely precludes that possibility. Ève and his son Clovis (d. 1634), both prominent royal relieurs to Henry III, Henry IV and finally Louis XIII, are often credited with the invention of the 'Fanfare' style of binding in late 16th century Paris. The 'Fanfare' style is characterized by scrolling leafy vines, flower-buds and interlocking geometric design. For an example by Nicolas Ève impressed with the arms of Henry III in the 'Fanfare' style, see G. Hobson, Les Reliures á la Fanfare, Amsterdam, 1970, pl. XVI. Though this style remained popular in France throughout the 17th century and into the 18th century, eventually it tended toward more prominent interlocking strapwork designs with less an organic character seen in the tooling of this box (see Hobson, ibid, plates XXII and XXIII for additional examples).
It is most interesting to note that though both the attribution and reputed provenance mentioned in the French & Company archives for this box are untenable, they should perhaps not be quickly dismissed. First, with the box being French, the dolphin motifs found on the lock and clasps of this box may suggest a link to a dauphin - if not the son of Henry IV and Marie de Medici, then perhaps a subsequent dauphin. Secondly, since the style of the tooled design is late 17th century, it is conceivable that it could have been made for either Louis, Dauphin of France (1661-1711), or his brother, Louis, Duke of Burgundy and later Dauphin (1681-1712). Finally, the distinctice S-shaped clasps on the fall-front of this casket can be compared to those on the front of another Royal piece, the gilt-tooled leather-bound chest supplied to the Comte d'Artois in 1778, offered in these Rooms, 26 October 2002, lot 325.
this coffer to the Libraire de l'Université de Paris et Relieur du Roy Nicolas Ève (d. 1581), stylistic dating most likely precludes that possibility. Ève and his son Clovis (d. 1634), both prominent royal relieurs to Henry III, Henry IV and finally Louis XIII, are often credited with the invention of the 'Fanfare' style of binding in late 16th century Paris. The 'Fanfare' style is characterized by scrolling leafy vines, flower-buds and interlocking geometric design. For an example by Nicolas Ève impressed with the arms of Henry III in the 'Fanfare' style, see G. Hobson, Les Reliures á la Fanfare, Amsterdam, 1970, pl. XVI. Though this style remained popular in France throughout the 17th century and into the 18th century, eventually it tended toward more prominent interlocking strapwork designs with less an organic character seen in the tooling of this box (see Hobson, ibid, plates XXII and XXIII for additional examples).
It is most interesting to note that though both the attribution and reputed provenance mentioned in the French & Company archives for this box are untenable, they should perhaps not be quickly dismissed. First, with the box being French, the dolphin motifs found on the lock and clasps of this box may suggest a link to a dauphin - if not the son of Henry IV and Marie de Medici, then perhaps a subsequent dauphin. Secondly, since the style of the tooled design is late 17th century, it is conceivable that it could have been made for either Louis, Dauphin of France (1661-1711), or his brother, Louis, Duke of Burgundy and later Dauphin (1681-1712). Finally, the distinctice S-shaped clasps on the fall-front of this casket can be compared to those on the front of another Royal piece, the gilt-tooled leather-bound chest supplied to the Comte d'Artois in 1778, offered in these Rooms, 26 October 2002, lot 325.