A gold-mounted poudre d'écaille boîte à miniature, Aymé-Antoine Chollet, Paris, 1772

circular, the cover with a contemporary miniature, oil on canvas, French school, of a Roman peasant family and their animals before a fountain in the campagna, the ground of navy blue poudre d'écaille, within stamped gold ribbon mounts, tortoiseshell-lined, maker's mark, charge and discharge marks of Julien Alaterre, date letter, later French control marks (tête d'aigle)

Colour of ground has faded and there are cracks in the lid sides. The mounts billow somewhat as they have been taken off and replaced, being fastened with quite a number of irregularly-placed gold pins. There is some crazing to the surface of the miniature but the colours are fresh.
"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."

The Paris hôpital de la Trinité in the rue St Denis had become, in the 16^th century, virtually the first training establishment for arts and crafts. Its initial responsibility for the care of orphans and children in peril had become more structured as it prepared children for a métier with education and apprenticeships. The Trinité was allowed to nominate one candidate per year for mastership in each of the official Parisian trades. Aymé-Antoine Chollet was admitted to the Trinité in 1755 and registered his maker’s mark (E or AAC, a triangle) the following year when a place became available, the numbers being strictly limited. He registered a new mark (AAC un coq – that on the current box) with the Goldsmiths’ Guild, in 1764. Chollet acted as warden in the Guild in 1768/9 and grand warden in 1782/3. He was recorded in the Almanach at the sign of the ‘Château de Namur’ on the pont Notre-Dame, ‘pour le bijou d’or’ in  1776 and continued to work at various addresses until 1791.