A gold-mounted tortoiseshell presentation snuff box, Charles-Christian Petschler, Paris, 1819-1838

rectangular, the lid inset with a porcelain plaque depicting the Archduke Johann of Austria (1782-1859) wearing the uniform of an Austrian Field Marshal, with the Order of the Golden Fleece, upper star, Commander's star, Order of Maria Theresia and the Order of Leopold, flanked by two blue on black enamel plaques, on a chased gold ground, slightly raised thumbpiece, maker's mark, bear's head, 3Paris 3e titre, grosse garantie

some cracks and restoration at each corner, especially along right back corner (cover and base), around left back corner (base with one crack), nuts consequently probably replaced, and lid panel probably detached and fixed again, porcelain plaque in 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."

Archduke Johann was born in Florence, the thirteenth child of the Habsburg Grand Duke Leopold of Tuscany, later Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II, and Maria Louisa of Spain. He became a Field Marshal in 1800 and led the Austrian army during the Napoleonic wars. He later developed a great interest in nature, climbing, technology and agriculture. He collected minerals and was active as an alpinist and hunter in the Duchy of Styria – he attempted to be the first to climb the Grossvenediger. A great moderniser, he became an important figure of identification for Styrians and founded notably the Joanneum Museum in 1811, the Styrian State Archive in 1817, the Styrian Society for Agriculture and the Mutual Fire Insurance. His morganatic marriage to Anna Plochl (1804-1855) excluded him from the succession to the throne but he gained much affection from the Styrian people and was elected Imperial regent during the 1848 Revolution, as represented on this miniature. He died in Graz in 1859.

According to the Ordonnance du Roi of 19 June 1822, which granted the right of domicile to ‘Chrétien-Charles Petschler, bijoutier’, then resident in Paris, he was born on 26 December 1780 in Nouvelle-Brandebourg, in Mecklenburg-Strelitz. It is probable that he was a son or near relative of the Neubrandenburg silversmith Gottlieb Joseph Petschler (1748-1822), originally from Norköping in Sweden, two of whose sons also became silversmiths. It is not known where C.C. Petschler received his training but it is evident that he had already arrived in Paris before 17 October 1807 when he was admitted to hospital in Paris in dire straits with erysipelas (listed as ‘Charles-Chrétien Petschler, agé de 25 ans, bijoutier’). His horrid symptoms, including high fever, outrageously swollen eyelids and a blackened tongue impeding speech, and successful cure are described in clinical detail (J.J. Leroux des Tillets, Cours sur les généralités de la medicine pratique, Paris, 1825/6, no. 310). Petschler entered this mark for bijouterie; joaillerie: la parure, la boîte or, etc. from rue de l'Arbre-Sec in 1814. The address appears as 13 rue de l’Arbre-Sec in Arminjon’s dictionary but as 33 on the baptismal records of three of his children between 1822 and 1827. The latter was also, from 1808, the address of the gold box maker L.F.A. Ricart. Petschler’s mark is found on presentation boxes retailed by Ouizille & Lemoine (Sotheby's Geneva, 19 May 1998, lot 62) and by Peteitjean  & Ouizille (Sotheby's Geneva, 20 May 1997, lot 384).