Beschreibung:

An important Napoleon III semi-precious stone-mounted enamelled silver, silver-gilt, bloodstone and Sevres-style porcelain cased 'necessaire de bureau' By Frédéric-Jules Rudolphi and Jules Wièse The porcelain decorated by Feuillet Neveu, The case by Garnier, Paris, Circa 1864-6 In the Renaissance style, comprising: a rectangular tray , with foliate-pierced rim, serpent handles, grotesque bat-form feet and jewelled clasps to the corners, inset with a pink-ground plaque decorated to the centre with three cloudborne putti with a vine-laden basket, within a richly gilt frame, the reverse with ink inscription Feuillet Neveu Fabricant/passage Sendrier No. 1 Paris ; a chamberstick , the pink-ground saucer decorated to the centre with an airborne putto, the reverse indistinctly inscribed Feuillet Neveu Fabricant , the rim mounted with a chimera-form handle supporting an enamelled and jewel-set hexagonal nozzle, with detachable gilt glass drip-pan; an écritoire , of cartouche shape, mounted with a horn-blowing putto, pair of birds and youth with spear astride an elephant head, the foliate-engraved top inset with an oval inkwell with mermaid-mounted lid, and circular lead shot and pounce pots, each with putto-mounted lid, on a conforming black marble plinth; a rectangular paperweight , the top set with turquoises and a pair of seated hounds, surmounted by a Bacchic herm supporting vine branches; a paper knife , with chamfered bloodstone handle, pierced enamelled blade and lizard-form joint; a pen , with enamelled crane surmount and bloodstone shaft; a quill cutter , with serpent-wrapped bloodstone handle; three seals , each deeply cut with the arms of Austria and Savoy, the largest with a tapering lizard-mounted bloodstone shaft, the base applied with vines and a pair of frogs, the second with tapering enamelled shaft, the base mounted with vines and a pair of putti, the smallest modelled as an armoured knight, variously marked with FR and JW , fitted in a velvet-lined tan-coloured leather case, the top centred with a gilt-metal M below a coronet, the sides with brass carrying handles, the lockplate engraved Garnier. Gainier, Quai de l'horloge, 77, à Paris The case: 6½in. (16.5cm.) high; 16 5/8in. (42.2cm.) wide; 10¾in. (27.3cm.) deep The tray: 2¼in. (5.7cm.) high; 12 1/8in. (30.8cm.) wide; 8 5/8in. (21.8cm.) deep The écritoire: 4½in. (11.4cm.) high overall