bronze incisé et doré et nacre gravée, le dessus de miroir découvrant un compartiment, ouvrant par un abattant à motifs de frises fleuries découvrant un nécessaire à écrire et gainé de cuir rouge doré au petit fer, la partie inférieure ouvrant par un tiroir à fond de miroir et deux tiroirs simulés, les montants en colonnes baguées et détachées, les côtés à décor d'ovales et de losanges, l'arrière à panneau de miroir, inscrit au dessous 'V7307' ; manques H. 18,5 cm. (71⁄4 in.) ; L. 12,5 cm. (5 in.) ; P. 10,5 cm. (41⁄4 in.)

AN ORMOLU-MOUNTED MOTHER-OF-PEARL MINIATURE SECRETAIRE, PARIS, CIRCA 1820-1830 The so-called “Palais Royal” objects were sold in fashionable shops around the Louvre Palace in Paris, in the Palais Royal district. Small clocks, week boxes, letter openers, thermometers, fans, ring holders, hand mirrors, and other decorative or novelty items were offered to a wealthy clientele, in the tradition of the art of tabletterie (fine small-object craftsmanship) and in the continuity of a luxury goods market developed since the 18th century by the marchands merciers. Several renowned houses sold these creations in their boutiques, such as Alphonse Giroux (1776–1848), established on Rue du Coq-Saint-Honoré, who was a purveyor to the Royal family. These objects display a beautiful combination of engraved mother-of-pearl and metal, often gilt bronze. Forms directly inspired by furniture are relatively rare. Notable examples include a miniature settee that was part of the Russel B. Aitken collection (Christie’s, New York, 25 November 2003, lot 8); two musical dressing tables (Christie’s, London, 10 July 2008, lot 1, and Christie’s, London, 22 September 2011, lot 2); a dressing table with ring holders (Christie’s, London, 26 July 2001, lot 107); another formerly owned by the Duchess of Gloucester (Christie’s, London, 13 June 2018, lot 47); and a clavichord, the ancestor of the piano (Christie’s, London, 26 October 2011, lot 1422). Other rare nécessaires can take on far more extravagant forms, such as the musical windmill whose drawer holds sewing implements (Christie’s, London, 5 July 2007, lot 8).