A gold and enamel mourning toothpick case and mourning vinaigrette, probably J.B. Daligault, Paris, 1819-1838

the toothpick case, shaped oblong, the cover centred with an oval panel painted in polychrome with a spray of flowers on a translucent sunray engine-turned ground, on a black enamel ground decorated in white and gold taille d'épargne with trailing flowers, 6.4cm., 2 ½ in. wide, the vinaigrette, rectangular with scalloped rims, decorated with trelliswork within white and gold flowers on black ground, the lid interior with a glazed hair compartment, the grille pierced and engraved with flowers and scrolls, 4cm., 1 ½ in., both with maker’s mark and Paris petite garantie 1819-1838; and a small basket-weave silver-gilt pill box, London, 1808, 5cm., 2in.

Folded into the toothpick case is an explanatory note from John Stuart Forbes, William's younger brother and heir, signed with initials: 'Found among my brother / William's things brought / home by my father, to whom / probably he gave it in / charge for me as a recollection / of himself along with 2 mourning / vinaigrettes for sisters 2 gentleman's / seals & keys mourning for my / brothers & a lady's watch seal & key plain for Miss Ballingall(?) / to all whom I gave them respect- / ively in full confidence that / he had thus appropriated them / in his last illness the day that / we laid him beside his revered / parents. 7 Nov. 1829. He died / 16th Sept. 1826 at Malta ....'

each in overall very good condition. Very charming. 95.6gr. all in.
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