Rare paire de jumelles de theatre en email, or et pierres precieuses, Paris, vers 1865

chaque face peinte de réserves de bouquets de fleurs bordées de perles d'émail sur un fond vert émeraude orné de rinceaux en paillons colorés et bordé de diamants, les montures en or gravées de la couronne du Khédive d'Egypte, dans un étui postérieur en velours vert estampé Cartier / London 175 New Bond St. / Paris 13 rue de la Paix / New York 653 5th Avenue

each side with oval panels painted with flower clusters on a white ground within beaded borders reserved on a dark green ground further ornamented with coloured paillon scrollwork between borders of brilliants and rose diamonds, joined by a rose diamond rosette, the gold-cased mounts engraved with the Egyptian Khedivial crown, in later fitted green velvet case applied with Khedivial crown and stamped for: Cartier / London 175 New Bond St. / Paris 13 rue de la Paix / New York 653 5th Avenue and photocopied document of provenance

Les Khedives d'Egypte;
Farouk I, Roi d'Egypte et de Sudan;
The Palace Collections of Egypt, ventes 1954 (probablement lot 672) et 1958;
Sotheby's Londres, 25 novembre 1968, lot 130

 

 

Good condition with some discolouring of silver paillons. Bruise to enamel causing small cracks at bottom of one barrel; the reverse with minor firing problem and very slight scratching. Some time chafing to case on edges.
"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."

Même si on sait que cette paire de jumelles fît très certainement partie des collections royales d'Egypte, leur origine précise reste encore mystérieuse. Lors de leur achat par le père de l'actuel propriétaire en 1968 chez Sotheby's, elles étaient accompagnées d'un document pourtant non mentionné dans le catalogue. ll s'agit d'une lettre notariée datant de 1960 en français et arabe affirmant que ces jumelles furent achetées lors des enchères des collections royales d'Egypte au Palais Abdine les 18, 19 et 20 avril 1958. Elles auraient été offertes au Khédive Ismail par l'impératrice Eugénie de France lors de la première de Aïda au Caire en 1867 à l'occasion de l'ouverture du canal de Suez en 1869. En réalité, l'opéra Khédivial fut inauguré certes lors de la visite de l'impératrice Eugénie au Caire pour l'ouverture du canal, mais uniquement en 1869 avec une performance de l'opéra Rigoletto. La situation devient plus complexe encore puisqu'une paire de jumelles d'opéra, correspondant exactement à cette description jusqu'à l'étui en velours vert, fut vendue chez Sotheby's lors de la vente au Palais de Koubbeh, du 10 au 17 mars 1954, lot 672. L'étui n'a pu être fait par Cartier avant leur installation au 653 5th Avenue en 1917. Le bijoutier reçu en revanche un mandat royal du roi Fuad en 1929 et a très bien pu fournir l'étui à ce moment-là.

Although there is no doubt that these opera glasses formed part of the Palace Collections of Egypt, there is some question as to their exact provenance. When they were purchased at Sotheby’s in 1968 by the present owner’s father, they were accompanied by a document which was not mentioned at the time in the catalogue. This notarised letter of 1960 stated in French and Arabic that the glasses had been purchased at the auction of the Egyptian Royal Collections at the Abdine Palace on 18,19, and 20 April 1958 and that they had been given to Khedive Ismail by Empress Eugenie of France for the inaugural performance of Aïda in Cairo in 1867 during the festivities for the opening of the Suez Canal. In fact the Khedivial Opera House was inaugurated during Empress Eugenie’s visit to Cairo for the opening of the canal in 1869 with a performance of Rigoletto. Matters are further confused since a pair of opera glasses exactly fitting this description even to the green velvet case, were sold at Sotheby’s earlier sale at Koubbeh Palace,10-17 March 1954, as lot 672.

 The Cartier case cannot have been made before the firm’s move to 653 5^th Avenue in 1917 but the firm received the royal warrant from King Fuad in 1929 and could well have supplied a case at that time for the glasses.