Necessaire
Pierre-Nöel Blaquière (fl.1803 - 1822)
Category
Silver
Date
circa 1815
Materials
Burr elm, morocco, silver-gilt, glass and mother-of-pearl
Measurements
134 mm (H); 375 mm (W); 235 mm (D)
Place of origin
Paris
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1246858
Summary
Nécessaire de voyage, circa 1815, the silver gilt components bearing marks for Paris, 1809-19 and goldsmiths T. M. Demachy and Pierre-Nöel Blaquière. The cut glass is probably from the Manufacture des Cristaux at Creusot. The burr-elm veneered case has ebony stringing and inset bronzed and pierced floriate bands. There are two bronzed drop handles and the fitted interior is lined with red morocco, a mirror being fixed on the inside of the hinged lid. The case, intended for a gentleman, holds numerous cut-glass, mother-of-pearl and silver-gilt implements and vessels including shaving equipment, brushes, perfume bottles, a silver-gilt coffee pot with detachable handle and a porcelain cup and saucer.
Full description
Immaculately fitted dressing cases such as this one were supplied to customers by fashionable shops in and around the Palais Royal in Paris. They were owned by members of the Imperial and Bourbon royal families as well as the wealthiest members of society. Pieces within them are frequently marked by goldsmiths Demachy and Blaquière, who clearly specialised in such sophisticated smallwares. Blaquière also supplied mounts for Sèvres porcelain.
Provenance
Perhaps acquired by William McEwan (1827-1913); by descent to his daughter Margaret Anderson, the Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville (1863-1942); bequeathed by her to the National Trust along with the Polesden Lacey estate.
Credit line
Polesden Lacey (the Greville Collection), National Trust
Marks and inscriptions
Coffee pot: The lid bears the premier cockerel mark for Paris, 95% silver (1809-19), the side of the pot has the Paris guarantee mark for medium objects of a classical head wearing a masked helmet and on the base is the cockerel again plus the maker's mark 'T M [/] D' beneath a five-pointed star and a crown for T. M. Demachy. Also on the base is the female head with a letter P which is thought to be the mark of the Paris assay master. Cover to tooth brush container: The underside of the cover bears the maker's mark 'P.N [/] B' beneath three swallows for Pierre-Nöel Blaquière plus the premier cockerel mark for Paris, 95% silver (1809-19), the Paris guarantee mark for medium objects of a classical head wearing a masked helmet and the female head with a letter P thought to be the assay master's mark. There is also a tiny, indecipherable counter assay mark. Tea spoon: The stem of the tea spoon is marked with the same Paris marks as the other two pieces, the maker's mark beginning with a D but not being identifiable.
Makers and roles
Pierre-Nöel Blaquière (fl.1803 - 1822), goldsmith T. M. Demachy (fl.1809 - 1819), goldsmith