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The following collection of purses or 'aumonières', dating mainly from the 18th century, are worked in crimson or green velvet and are embroidered overall with silk and silver thread. A number of them bear the arms of important families with known associations with the French royal court. Some purses display royal arms with raised gilt thread work bearing the arms of the Dauphin of France quartered with those of Poland, Lithuania and Saxony, on an escutcheon design for Louis (1729-1767), son of Louis XV, and his wife Josepha (1731-1767), daughter of Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, whom the Dauphin married in 1747. Another exceptionally large purse in green velvet is embroidered with the arms 'd'alliance' of Lépold I, Joseph-Charles, duc de Lorraine and his wife Elisabeth-Charlotte d'Orleans. A purse in red velvet has the coat of arms of the alliance of Marie-Joseph, duc d'Hostun and of his spouce Marie-Isabelle de Rohan married in 1713. Other purses have the arms of famous courtiers of the Palace of Versailles, for example those of Jean-André-Hercule, cardinal de Fleury, Chaplain in 1688 for Marie-Thérèse and later in 1692 for the King. Other arms are from important families such as Voyer de Paulmy and Vintimille. Also known as 'dévolu', these purses were given by the French king to noblemen at his court on special occasions or as tokens of gratitude. In them, they received Louis d'or, which allowed them to play games of chance that were regularly organised at the royal casino, at the 'table du roi'. Some of the 'aumonières' are decorated with the Royal 'fleurs-de-lys', Alderman's purses have the coat of arms of the City of Paris, and another large purse has the coat of arms of the City of Nuremberg.

TWO FRENCH CIRCULAR DRAWSTRING PURSES

SECOND HALF 17TH CENTURY

Details

TWO FRENCH CIRCULAR DRAWSTRING PURSES
SECOND HALF 17TH CENTURY
In burgundy velvet worked in riased and conched metal thread with fleur-de-lys, the base of one with a crowned coat of arms of the countess of Burgundy
3½ in. (9 cm.) diameter (2)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 21% will be added to the buyer''s premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

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