BY JEAN DUCROLLAY (FL. 1734-1761), MARKED, PARIS, 1750/1752, WITH THE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF JULIEN BERTHE 1750-56

Details

A LOUIS XV GOLD-MOUNTED JAPANESE LACQUER NOTEBOOK COVER
by Jean Ducrollay (fl. 1734-1761), marked, Paris, 1750/1752, with the charge and discharge marks of Julien Berthe 1750-56
Rectangular binding for an aide-mémoire, the hinged front and back covers of Japanese hiramaki-e lacquer, the outsides with gold and silver trees and branches on a black ground, the inside with fine gold sprinkling on black, the gold spine and broad gold mounts engraved with reeding tied with diagonal reeded bands, a reeded gold pencil inserted in the gold clasps at front and rear sides to lock the booklet
3 13/16 in. (97 mm.) high

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

F. J. B . Watson and C. C. Dauterman (The Wrightsman Collection. Volume III. Furniture, Snuffboxes, Silver, Bookbindings, New York, 1970, p. 296) record in their article on Ducrollay: 'On at least two occasions he is mentioned as buying boxes of Oriental lacquer from Lazare Duvaux (Livre-Journal, December 17, 1750, no. 680, and a much larger quantity on October 4, 1752, no. 1225). These were unquestionably intended to be cut up and mounted en cage as gold boxes.' Considering that the date-letter 'K' on the present notebook corresponded to the rather exceptionally long period from 15 July 1750 to 22 January 1752, it is tempting to suggest that the present two lacquer panels originate from Duvaux's 17 December 1750 supply.

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