tabatière ronde en écaille ornée d'une plaque en ivoire, signé N. Klammer, Allemagne, début du XIXe siècle

à monture en or, le panneau sculpté en haut relief de nymphes nues vénérant une statue de Pan, sans poinçon; et une boîte en or ronde, le couvercle orné d'une miniature tardive représentant une procession de couronnement, probablement David Fischer, Prague, 1801



circular, the panel carved in high relief on Wedgwood blue with naked nymphs at a Priapic altar, unmarked; and a circular gold box, the lid inset with a later miniature of a coronation procession in Budapest, the box with concentric bands of engine-turning within delicate chased scalloped leaves, maker's mark DF in an oval, Austro-Hungarian,1801

First box: tortoiseshell of lid cracked in three places; ivory carving in fine condition apart from damage to one nymph's hand Second box: excellent condition throughout
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Nicolaus Klammer (Clamer) was born in 1769, the son of  a porcelain modeller in Vienna and died in Graz in 1830. He was trained as an ivory carver by the Hess brothers who specialised in what is known as 'micro-carving'  before spending some years in England working with Stephany & Dresch who also used the same techniques. It is for this reason that his works are sometimes signed with the more anglicised initials NC or the name N. Clamer. Klammer is said to have specialised in carving spirited horses and delicately-branched trees. After returning to Austria he lost his wife, Anna Hörlin, and suffered from deep depression, ending his years as a drawing master. For further information and illustrations of Klammer's more typical work, see P.W. Hartmann, Elfenbeinkunst, 1999, pp. 110-117 and the Connoisseur Collection, Nagel-Auktionen, Suttgart, 5/6 December 2002, lots 13-16.

The coronation procession depicted in the miniature on the lid of the second box is said to be that of Maria Ludovica of Austria-Este (1781-1816), third wife of Franz I, Emperor of Austria, as Queen Consort of Hungary. The coronation took place in September 1808 in Pressburg (Bratislava) and represented a rare moment of harmong between the Austrian Empire and the kingdom of Hungary.