Maison Maquet Paris Silver gilt c1890

Maison Maquet Paris

Silver gilt mounted Chinese Qianlong bowl, c.1890.

Mounted as a smokers companion or desk tidy.

Signed Maquet Paris Nice, French silver control marks.

Maison Maquet were a luxury stationer and leather goods manufacturer founded in 1841. They became supplier to the Empress Eugene and many of the Royal Courts of Europe. Alongside the stationery they produced luxury accessories many made from converting and adapting oriental antiques, carved Jade and hardstone snuff bottles mounted in silver became table lighters, jade plaques were fashioned into ornate boxes and porcelain and enamel bowls transformed into smoking companions and desk tidies.

This piece is mounted on a Chinese porcelain bowl, of russet brown glaze with roundels painted with prunus blossom. The silverwork is very fine, the groundwork is etched and the highlights hand engraved with great skill, depicting temples, dragons, prunus blossom, fish and ho ho birds.

Excellent condition