TRAVEL SET BY BIENNAIS. - Lot 121

Lot n° 121
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Estimation :
4000 - 6000 EUR
TRAVEL SET BY BIENNAIS. - Lot 121
TRAVEL SET BY BIENNAIS. Rectangular shape, made of solid mahogany and brass inlaid with lozenges in filleted frames. It presents an interior in solid mahogany comprising several stages of accessories of voyage The remainder organized in various compartments, includes a basin with silver beard a ewer with removable handle, a teapot, a silver timbale, funnels, a draw-button for the gaiters, a coffee pot, three diamond-cut crystal bottles with gilt lids, an oval tray containing a desk set, the lower part of which swivels and unmasks cutlery, at the lower levels two other trays with measuring instruments, corkscrews and lace-pullers, toothbrush, badger brush, scales (damaged) and weights. Hallmarks of the master goldsmith Marie-Joseph-Gabriel Genu, Martin Guillaume Biennais, Pierre Joubert and first title 1798-1809. It has a side drawer. It bears on a brass plate the inscription "Biennais Md Tabletier au Singe Violet, rue Honoré, N°511 à Paris ", (Misses, restorations, accessories brought back, small oxidations.) H : 14 - W : 41 - D : 27 cm Martin-Guillaume BIENNAIS (1764-1843), a tablemaker received master in 1788, bought the same year the modest background of the tablemaker Claude-Louis Anciaux which he developed. Under the Consulate, he agrees to supply the 1st Consul Bonaparte on credit. The latter, now Emperor, was grateful and made him his goldsmith. The Revolution having abolished the guild system, Biennais took advantage of it to extend his activity to goldsmithing, thus offering his customers luxury objects of which he mastered all the manufacturing stages. Under the Empire, his business grew considerably and under the Restoration, his attachment to the Emperor deprived him of royal orders, but he received several orders from abroad. In 1821, he sold his business to Jean-Charles CAHIER. Marie-Joseph-Gabriel GENU belongs to a dynasty of goldsmiths. He was received as a master goldsmith in 1788 and became the main collaborator of Martin Guillaume Biennais. He delivers with him some sets for Napoleon I or Pauline Borghese. Cf : " L'Orfèvre de Napoléon, Martin-Guillaume Biennais " Anne Dion-Tenenbaum, Musée du Louvre 15 October 2003 - 19 January 2004.
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