Lot 208: AN IMPORTANT ROYAL DOUBLE-CASED SET OF DRAWING INSTRUMENTS BY ALPHONSE GIROUX MOUNTED WITH MINIATURES ATTRIBUTED TO JOSEPH-HIPPOLYTE LEQUEUTRE (1793-1877) CHARLES X, CIRCA 1829

AN IMPORTANT ROYAL DOUBLE-CASED SET OF DRAWING INSTRUMENTS BY ALPHONSE GIROUX MOUNTED WITH MINIATURES ATTRIBUTED TO JOSEPH-HIPPOLYTE LEQUEUTRE (1793-1877) CHARLES X, CIRCA 1829 the silver-gilt strung tortoiseshell case with a finely worked gilt-bronze panel to one side and decorated with a crown, coronets and the Royal Arms of France and set with three oval miniatures depicting the Duchesse de Berry (1798-1870) the latter inscribed " D'apres Dubois ", Henri, Comte de Chambord (1820-1886) and Louise de France (1819-1864), the other side with a central lock and four small paintings by Felix-Marie-Ferdinand Storelli (1778-1854) depicting views of the château de Rosny, raised on a plinth base with pierced gilt-bronze mounts centered by a medallion depicting the muse Clio; both sides opening to reveal a finely tooled red leather interior of four hinged compartments, a pair fitted for nineteen silvered metal, polished steel and mother of peal instruments which include a tortoiseshell protractor, proportional compass, sector and dividers. The other pair containing notebooks, the central well with cut glass inkwells either side of a removable tray with hardstone palettes, above a further tray with paint tablets cast with feathers and coronets and an assortment of mother of pearl brushes, pencils by William Langdon, Chinese ink stick, mixing mussel shells and chamois leather eraser etc. together with the original outer bronze mounted bois de citron table cabinet with doors to each side and a velvet-lined interior outer case: 37cm. high, 44.5cm. wide, 16cm. deep; 1ft. 2½in., 1ft. 5¾in., 6½in; inner case: 26cm. high, 35cm. wide, 7cm. deep; 10¼in, 1ft. 1¾in., 2¾in

Comparative Literature
Entre Cour et Jardin, Exhibition catalogue, château de Sceaux, 2007. Hildegard Kremers, Marie Caroline Herzogin von Berry, Cologne, 2002, p.153 for virtually identical miniatures by Lequeutre of the Duchesse de Berry and the Duc de Bordeaux;

This exceptional cased set of drawing instruments is of the highest quality, commissioned by the Duchesse de Berry from one of her favourite suppliers François Simon Alphonse Giroux (1775-1848). In 1799 Giroux opened his shop in 7, rue du coq Saint-Honoré. He produced luxury goods for a wealthy clientele and his objects often incorporated exotic materials. He is known to have produced a number of gilt-bronze frames and mounts for miniatures. Notable examples include:
- two miniatures representing Henri, Comte de Chambord and Princess Louise d'Artois by Joseph Hippolythe Lequeutre (1793-1877) inset into a gilt-bronze frame by Alphonse Giroux, Christie's, London, 7th December 2004, lots 380 and 381.
- a miniature representing the Duchesse de Berry and her son the Duc de Bordeaux in front of the castle of Rosny in a gilt-bronze frame signed by Alphonse Giroux, offered by the duchesse to Comte de Mesnard aide-de-camp of the duc de Berry and later of the Duc de Bordeaux. Today it is conserved in the musée Dobrée in Nantes and illustrated in the exhibition catalogue, Entre Cour et Jardin, Sceaux 2007, p.48.
- a miniature depicting the Duchesse inset into a gilt-bronze frame signed by Alphonse Giroux and decorated with a pattern of natural fleur-de-lys, her initials and crowned by her coat of arms. It was given by her to Comtesse de Caumont from Derchigny castle who she often visited while she stayed at Dieppe. Illustrated in, Entre Cour et Jardin, Sceaux 2007, p.185.
- a courier box decorated with views of château de Rosny by Storelli, private collection, illustrated in, Entre Cour et Jardin, Sceaux 2007, p.209.
- a correspondance casket with miniatures by Emilie de Lorme set in a gilt-bronze panel virtually identical to the one on the present lot, offered by the duchesse to her half-sister Luisa Carlota (1804-1844), Infanta of Spain; Christie's, Paris, 21st June 2006, lot 341, sold for €114.000

Joseph-Hippolyte Lequeutre (1793-1877) was a pupil of Aubry and Isabey and exhibited at the Salons from 1822 to 1863. Towards the end of Charles X's reign he became one of the favourite miniature painters of the Duchesse de Berry. Even after the end of the Bourbon rule Lequeutre remained loyal to Marie Caroline and the exiled royal family as opposed to Duchesne who adapted himself to the new political situation and successfully worked for King Louis-Philippe.
Lequeutre painted the miniature portrait of the Duchesse de Berry in the present lot after the famous painting executed by Alexandre-Jean Dubois-Drahonet in 1828 showing the Duchesse in the Grand Salon of the Pavillon Marsan in the Tuileries. This iconic work is today housed in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.

Felix-Marie-Ferdinand Storelli (1778-1854) see footnote for lot 199