Souvenirs of the duchesse de Berry. A group of French ivory objects of vertu, second quarter of the 19th century

including a presentation mallet, the head forming a box containing 20 miniature ivory tools and an accompanying trowel carved with vine borders, 23 and 19cm, 9 and 7 1/2 in; an ivory-handled silk firescreen worked in gold thread on one side with the cipher of the duchesse de Berry within fleurs-de-lis and on the other: Souvenir de France 1847, 30.2cm, 12in; another worked with a cipher below the French Royal crown, 36cm, 14 1/8 in; a miniature feather duster with turned ivory handle, 29cm, 11 1/2 in; a cream lace folding parasol, the ivory shaft terminating in a gold-lace capped crystal ball, Verdier, Paris, 65.5cm, 24 3/4 in; an ivory notebook with gold plaque inscribed: Dieppe Aout 1826, with label for Thomas / Grande Rue No. 30; a carved Dieppe ivory bust of the duc de Sully, 4cm, 1 1/2 in; three mother of pearl quill-trimming implements and various small ivory items and parts (a quantity)

The mallet and trowel were given to the duchesse de Berry when she inaugurated the Petit-Théatre in Dieppe on 8 August 1826. The head of the mallet opens to reveal twenty miniature models tools used in the construction of the theatre. Each tool, even the most minute, is inscribed with its name. It is probable that the notebook inscribed: Dieppe Aout 1826, was given to the duchess on the same occasion.

It is not surprising that the duchess should have possessed a bust of the duc de Sully (1560-1641), faithful henchman of Henri IV and much admired as a historical figure by the duchess who had purchased Sully's home, the château de Rosny. in 1818.

Vicomte de Reiset, Marie-Caroline, Duchesse de Berry, 1816-1830, Paris, 1906, p. 324.
Pierre Ickowicz, 'La duchesse de Berry et l'essor de l'artisanat dieppois', Entre Cour et Jardin, Exhibition catalogue, château de Sceaux, 2007, p. 70.

First item with handle lacking end; box in head of mallet does not open; other items as photographed; the smaller unlisted items are mainly parts.
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