The present coffre de mariage features the coats-of-arms of the de Broglie and Voysin families. It was most certainly supplied by Thomas Hache (1664-1747), from the celebrated Grenoble-based dynasty of ébénistes, at the occasion of the marriage of Charles Guillaume de Broglie, marquis de Broglie (1669-1751) and Marie Madeleine Voysin de la Noray on 13 March 1710. It remained in the de Broglie family until the 20th Century when it came by marriage into the Rothschild family where it remained until 2012, more than three-hundred years after it was produced by Thomas Hache.
Thomas Hache was the fifth child of the ébéniste and founder of the cabinet-making dynasty Noël Hache (c.1635-1675). At the age of about 20, Thomas settled in Chambéry in the Duchy of Savoye to study Italian models of furniture. His presence in Grenoble is first recorded in November 1699, when he married the eldest daughter of the cabinet-maker Michel Chevalier, before becoming maître in 1701. In 1721, Thomas Hache was awarded the title of ‘ébéniste ordinaire du duc d'Orléans’. He died in 1747, and bequeathed the family workshop to Pierre (b.1705), his only son.
Closely related caskets include an example, albeit of smaller proportions, attributed to Thomas Hache, circa 1710-15, illustrated P. Rouge & F. Rouge, op.cit., p.41, and another stamped ‘Hache à Grenoble’ and attributed to Thomas or Pierre who continued in his father’s earlier style, illustrated R. Fonvieille, op.cit. p.13. Two further related caskets stamped by Pierre Hache and Jean-François Hache respectively are illustrated Ibid., pp. 28 and 37, whilst two further related examples by the same are illustrated M. Clerc, op.cit., p.62., figs 19-20.
Amongst the closely related examples sold at auction, a large casket executed by Pierre Hache and of slightly later date, was sold Sotheby's, Paris, 29 March 2007, lot 26 (£36,000 with premium); whilst a further related example by Thomas Hache was sold Sotheby’s, London, 30 September 2011, lot 44. Further related examples include a casket by Pierre Hache, featuring the arms of Charles-Etienne Maignart de la Vaupalière, council to the Rouen Parliament, was sold, Couturier Nicolay, Paris, 10 December 1999, lot 104 (FF145,000), whilst a related marriage casket, of shaped rectangular form and smaller proportions, was sold Sotheby's, London, 3 July 2012, lot 21.