ANTIQUE 19thC FRENCH GOLD & ENAMEL BOURBON PRESENTATION SNUFF BOX c.1855
19th Century French jewelled gold and enamel snuff box, exceptionally fine and important, of shaped rectangular form, the lid applied with a royal crown above the cipher of Henry V de Bourbon, comte de Chambord (1820-1883), four fleur-de-lis, all set with rose-cut diamonds, blue enamel on a striped engine turned ground, the interior engraved: “Donné par Monsieur le / Comte de Chambord/ au Baron de Schwiter / 1855”.
Hallmarked French gold, Paris, year about 1854-1855, Maker’s mark for Arthur Goossens.
Antique 19th Century French jewelled gold and enamel snuff box, exceptionally fine and important, of shaped rectangular form, the lid applied with a royal crown above the cipher of Henry V de Bourbon, comte de Chambord (1820-1883), four fleur-de-lis, all set with rose-cut diamonds, blue enamel on a striped engine turned ground, the interior engraved: “Donné par Monsieur le / Comte de Chambord/ au Baron de Schwiter / 1855”.
Henry d’Artois, comte de Chambord, is the last of the Bourbon line. In 1830 he was proclaimed King Henry V but his cousin, Louis-Philippe d’Orleans (1773-1850), refused to recognize him. A National Assembly decided in favour of d’Orleans who a week later was proclaimed King Louis-Philippe forcing Henry and his family into exile. The comte de Chambord continued his claim to the throne for the rest of his life, supported by a large group seeking the restoration of the Bourbons.
A large equestrian portrait of Henri V was painted by the artist Baron Schwiter in 1854 and this was probably the reason for the presentation snuff box to be offered to the artist.
The box is Hallmarked French gold, Paris, year about 1854-1855, Maker’s mark for Arthur Goossens.