ATTRIBUTED TO MARTIN-FRANÇOIS BOURDILLAT (FL. 1775-1793), INDISTINCTLY MARKED, PARIS, 1780/1781, WITH THE FIRST CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF HENRY CLAVEL 1780-1782

Details

A LOUIS XVI ENAMELLED GOLD BONBONNIÈRE
ATTRIBUTED TO MARTIN-FRANÇOIS BOURDILLAT (FL. 1775-1793), INDISTINCTLY MARKED, PARIS, 1780/1781, WITH THE FIRST CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF HENRY CLAVEL 1780-1782
circular box, the independent cover, sides and base enamelled in blue simulating lapis lazuli, the cover centred with an oval opalescent enamel plaque painted with wintry trees on a guilloché ground, within simulated pearl and beaded gold borders, the base centred with a two-colour gold rosette with beaded border, the mounts similarly decorated
3 1/8 in. (79 mm.) diam.

Provenance

Sotheby's, Zurich, 16 November 1977, lot 86.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The box has been attributed on the basis of the first and second letters of the maker's mark, which are 'M' and 'F' respectively. The third letter has been rubbed and the différent for Martin-François Bourdillat is unknown, as the relevant word is omitted from the minutes of the guild of the Parisian Goldsmiths.

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