A LOUIS XV VARI-COLOUR GOLD SEALING-WAX CASE WITH LATER FITTED WATCH

THE CASE BY CLAIR-FRANÇOIS ROUSSEAU (FL. 1767-AFTER 1790), MARKED, PARIS, 1771/1772, WITH THE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF JULIEN ALATERRE 1768-1774, WITH TWO FRENCH POST-1838 RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARKS FOR GOLD, THE LATER WATCH BY VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS

Details

A LOUIS XV VARI-COLOUR GOLD SEALING-WAX CASE WITH LATER FITTED WATCH
THE CASE BY CLAIR-FRANÇOIS ROUSSEAU (FL. 1767-AFTER 1790), MARKED, PARIS, 1771/1772, WITH THE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF JULIEN ALATERRE 1768-1774, WITH TWO FRENCH POST-1838 RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARKS FOR GOLD, THE LATER WATCH BY VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS
slightly tapering étui of oval section, both sides of cover and base with vertical fluting and shaped cartouches of musical trophies and peace on a sablé ground, blank matrix, the slightly domed cover with secret compartment later fitted with a watch
4¾ in. (124 mm.) long

Brought to you by

Amelia Anderson

aanderson@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2343

Lot Essay

Clair-François Rousseau was goldsmith to King Louis XVI. He worked at the Gobelins Factory from April 1761 and in June 1767 became a master goldsmith in Paris sponsored by Jacques Lebrun (fl. 1763-1782). Rousseau is recorded as working in the rue Aumaire from 1781 to 1790.

More from An Iberian Private Collection Part I: Important Gold Boxes & Objects of Vertu

View All