German, Dresden or French, Paris, early 18th century

Overall the condition of the scent bottle is very good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The gold mounts are joined to the ivory with very slightly visible pins, in particular above the forehead and at the back above the hinge. There is minor stable splitting to the ivory, consistent with the material, particularly at the terrasse in front of the proper left leg. There is also a very small split to the proper left side of the chest. There are two small inlets in the ivory, one in the terrasse below the proper left leg and one in the terrasse at the proper right side; these may be for lost diamond studs. There is a little bit of greyish dirt or oxidation to the gold straps at the chest. There is minor general wear, including a few nicks and small holes, to the gold mounts. A small section of the bottom gold plate at the back below the hinge is lost. There are some minor glue residues in the crevice between the terrasse and the ivory base. There are some residues of gilding in the ivory lattice decoration at the collar. There are two small metal pins and one ivory pin to the underside. There is a small separately-carved section in the terrasse at the front.
"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."

This finely carved ivory scent bottle with gold and diamond mounts, with distinctive Paris fleur de lys discharge mark, can be compared to a group which belonged to the Princess Therese Kunigunde Sobieska who was married to the Elector Max Emmanuel of Bavaria (1676-1730) and which are in the treasury of the Munich Residenz and listed by Thomas and Brunner (op.cit.). Two further related scent bottles belonging to Anna Maria Luisa de Medici (1667-1743),  are recorded, one by Reiner (op. cit.), the other by Hackenbroch (op. cit.) and also an etui figure of a harlequin included in the Gonzalez Palacios collection, sold Sotheby's Paris 29 March 2007, lot 15. All these pieces, including the Munich Treasury etuis have the same fleur-de-lys mark. The J Paul Getty Museum catalogue records that the single uncrowned fleur de lys mark would appear to be the discharge mark for silver small objects used between 1717-1722 (op.cit.), and also used for gold, see Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, London, 1991, p.31, who states it could be also be for 1712-17. Truman catalogued in the Waddesdon Manor collection a further related chinaman etui.

RELATED LITERATURE
H. Thoma and H. Brunner, Kataloge der Schatzkammer der Residenz Munchen, Munich 1967, p. 327, no.1112-1113; P. Reiner, Spendours of Vienna, exh. cat. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, p.172-3, no.45; C. Truman et al, Gold Boxes and Miniatures of the 18th century, James A de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, Fribourg, 1975, p.88, no. 40; Y. Hackenbroch, The Jewels of the Electress Palatine in the museo degli Argenti, exh. cat. Pitti Palace, Florence, 1988, no 65, p.150-151; F.J. Watson and G. Wilson, Mounted Oriental Porcelain in the J.Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 2000, p.36