THE BOX CIRCA 1740, RETAILED BY LEON GRUEL, PARIS

Details

A LOUIS XV GILT-EMBOSSED LEATHER BOX CONTAINING 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY BUTTONS
THE BOX CIRCA 1740, RETAILED BY LEON GRUEL, PARIS
The lid embossed with the coat-of-arms of Melun, Prince d'Epinoy and Duc de Joyeuse and now adapted to enclose nine layers of buttons, the top layer of fifteen porcelain buttons painted with songbirds; the first drawer of forty-six emerald and diamond paste-set buttons; the second drawer of thirty-three Wedgewood and giltmetal and black tôle buttons, one depicting Montgolfier's balloon; the third drawer of thirty-one buttons set with portrait miniatures of royalty and French satirical scenes; the fourth drawer of thirty-seven diamond paste and painted gilt-glass buttons; the fifth drawer of twenty-five painted silk and ivory buttons depicting Louis XVI and his court; the sixth drawer of thirty-three painted glass and grisaille landscape-set buttons; the seventh drawer of watercolour landscape and sepia figure-set buttons; the eighth drawer of thirty-two mother-of-pearl, paste, glass and cloisonné enamel buttons
the box - 20 1/8 in. (51 cm.) wide; the buttons - from ¾ in. (17 mm.) to 1½ in. (38 mm.) diam.

Provenance

With Boyll, Paris.
Acquired through Pierre Delbée by Don Bartolomé March Servera for the Library in Miguel Angel, Madrid, circa 1965.

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. Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Lot Essay

The Victoria and Albert Museum's Textile Collection contains Wedgewood buttons of 1785-1800 for a man's formal coat (Inv. No. 276 to N-1866), similar to those found in drawer two of the present lot (Inv. No. 276 to N-1866). The Victoria and Albert Collection also contains cut-steel buttons of circa 1795 (Inv. No. M.29-1997), which are related in technique to those in drawer three of the box.

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