Three gold and lacquer bonbonnières, France, various dates

the first, a gold-mounted lacquered gold bonbonnière, Louis-Claude Porcher, Paris, 1768, circular, the lid, sides and base lacquered in red over foiled sunray reeding within pierced gold borders, maker's mark, charge and discharge of Julien Alaterre, 5.2cm. 2in. diameter.; the second, a gold pill box, Paris, 1798-1809, circular, engine turned within pellet borders, maker's mark ? L ? in a vertical lozenge, Paris 3e titre et garantie, later poorly struck titre and control marks, 4.4cm., 1¾in. diameter ; the third, a lacquered three-colour gold pill box, circa 1840, oval, the lid centred with coloured gold chased flowers and foliage, within a lacquer border painted with figures within a ribbon-tied laurel border, the sides and base also lacquered with busy figures and landscapes, struck twice with French tête d'aigle control, 4.5cm., 1¾in. wide

the first and second, The Property of a Gentleman, Christie's Geneva, 14-15 November 1983, lot 467 & lot 507.

1. Three patches of lacquer lacking on sides and one very small chip on base; time crizzling to lacquer. Lid pins lacking 2. Lid has been split and repaired; base is worn. 3. There are some patches of lacquer loss particularly on the sides and base. The ground lacquer has also darkened and crizzled with age but still a charming and unusual small box.
"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."

Son of Alexis Porcher, Louis-Claude was baptised in Paris on 23 December 1737. On 21 July 1762 he became master, on the pont Notre-Dame, sponsored by his father. The almanac of 1774 lists ‘Porcher le jeune, pont Notre-Dame, au Vase d’or, connu pour tout ce qui concerne le bijou de fantaisie et à secret’. Indeed one wonders whether the lid of the present box could originally have concealed 'un secret'. Porcher is recorded at various addresses until 1791. His mark appears on a circular gold bonbonnière of the same date, in the Gilbert Collection, overlaid with green and red lacquer below turned ivory (Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, vol.I, Los Angeles, 1991, no. 23).