A French Silver-Gilt Small Ewer, Retailed by Maurice Mayer, Orfèvre de l’Empereur, Paris, Circa 1870

The inscription reads “Offert par Monsieur Arthur Picard 14 Kislev 5630”(1869).

This ewer has been adapted by Maurice Mayer. His signature is on a panel inserted in the base. Arthur Picard was expelled from the Paris Bourse as a blackleg( see report of the Prefecture of Police 31 July 1867 )and convicted on his own confession of the theft of 300,000 francs, while manager of one of the branches of the Societe Generale at 117 rue Palestro no 5. His brother Ernest, who appointed himself Finance Minister of the Republic, made him editor of his paper L’Electeur Libre.