tabatière royale en or et émail, probablement France, milieu du XIXe siècle

le couvercle orné du chiffre en émail bleu d'Henri, duc d'Aumale(1822-1897), à fond décoré à la manière de Louis-François Tronquoy, guilloché et bordé de volutes gravées, apparemment non poinçonnée, la bordure droite numérotée 7 et 5

rectangular with waisted sides, the lid applied with the blue enamelled cipher of Henri, duc d'Aumale (1822-1897), the ground decorated in the manner of Louis-François Tronquoy with bird's foot engine-turning within engraved scrolled borders, applied thumbpiece, apparently unmarked, the right rim struck with numerals 7 and 5

Very good condition.
"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."

Cinquième fils de Louis-Philippe, Roi des Français, et de Marie-Amélie de Bourbon-Siciles, le prince Henri, duc d'Aumale (1822-1897), reçut une éducation relativement simple, au lycée Henri IV à Paris. A l'âge de huit ans, il hérita de la fortune considérable de son parrain, le dernier prince de Condé, 66 millions de livres en plus du château de Chantilly. A l'âge de 17 ans, il embrassa la carrière militaire, carrière malheureusement interrompue fréquemment par les aléas de la situation politique française : gouverneur général d'Algérie en 1847, il dut s'exiler en Angleterre après la révolution de 1848. Volontaire pour un nouveau service au début de la guerre franco-prussienne, il se vit refuser cet engagement et ce n'est qu'en 1872 qu'il revint, nommé inspecteur général des Armées en 1879. En 1883, il fut de nouveau obligé de se retirer, suite à une nouvelle loi interdisant aux membres des familles ayant régné en France d'occuper des postes militaires. En 1886, une autre loi obligea les chefs des anciennes familles régnantes à l'exil et refusait tout poste public aux autres membres. Ces moments d'exil ne furent pourtant pas oisifs car le duc, fervent bibliophile, passa son temps à étudier et à acquérir une collection magnifique de livres et manuscrits dont il fit don, avec le château de Chantilly, à l'institut de France. Ayant pris connaissance de cet acte de générosité, le gouvernement français accorda au duc de passer ses dernières années en France.

Born the fifth son of Louis Philippe, King of the French, and Marie Amalie of Bourbon-Sicily, Prince Henri, Duke of Aumale (1822-1897) had a comparatively simple upbringing, educated at the Lycée Henri IV in Paris. At the tender age of 8, however, he had inherited the vast fortune (66 million livres) of his godfather, the last Prince de Condé, including the celebrated château de Chantilly.  At the age of 17 he entered the army but his military career was to see frequent interruptions caused by the changing political situation in France: from being governor-general of Algeria in 1847, he went into exile in England following the revolution of 1848. He volunteered for service again on the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war but was at refused, returning to the army only in 1872 becoming inspector-general of the army in 1879. In 1883, he was forced to retire on the passing of a law which prevented members of families who had reigned in France from holding military positions. A further law of 1886 expelled the heads of former reigning families from France and disqualified members of such families from holding any public office. The Duke protested vigorously  but was nonetheless exiled once again. These periods of exile were not idle as the Duke spent the time in scholarship and, a keen bibliophile, in acquiring a magnificent collection of books and manuscripts which, together with the château de Chantilly, he had bequeathed to the Institut de France. On learning of this act of generosity, the French government relented and finally withdrew the decree of exile enabling the Duke to spend his last years in France.