The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
Lacloche Frères
Ruby and diamond evening bag
Auction Closed
March 24, 08:41 PM GMT
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Ruby and diamond evening bag
Lacloche Frères
circa 1905
modelled as a pig, the eyes set with cabochon rubies, the tail and trotters set with rose-cut diamonds and set with a line of cushion-shaped diamonds along the spine, to a mesh body and fancy link chain handle, signed Lacloche Fres, numbered, French assay marks and maker's mark for Julien Duval
Lacloche Frères are responsible for the production of some of the finest jewels of the early twentieth century. Having individually operated a number of shops in France and Spain, it was not until 1901 that the Lacloche brothers formally grouped together under the name Lacloche Frères, establishing themselves in the heart of Paris at 15, Rue de la Paix. They collaborated with some of the best Parisian manufacturers of the era, including on an animal themed accessories collection created with the maker's Julien Duval and Paul Frey. This included bags in the form of spiders, owls and bats, as well as the present pig, a trend commented on by the Dundee Evening Telegraph in 1904 'gold pig purses are a novelty, the head of the grunter in solid gold, the body forming the popular chain purse'.
This distinctive Belle Époque evening bag retailed by Lacloche owes its extraordinary workmanship to Julien Duval (b. 1856) a Parisian jeweller particularly renowned for his jewels in sculpted gold, many of which were created in collaboration with the medallist Frédéric de Vernon.