335

French Empire Fruitwood Ormolu Mounted Secretaire with Inset Clock, last quarter 19th century
with winged goddess figures supporting an upper drawer unit decorated with ribboned wreaths, masks shepards and shepardesses and with eagle finials and paw feet; clock impressed L. P. Japy & Co., 1878; height: 56 in., width: 51 in., depth: 25 in.

Provenance: Property of a North Shore Massachusetts Family.

Other Notes: This desk purportedly once belonged to Emperor Napoleon's eldest sister, Princess Marie-Elise, Bonaparte. She was married to a General Bacciochi and became Princess of Lucca and Piombino. She was later the title of Grande Duchesse of Tuscany. The Grande Duchesse amassed a profusion of costly Empire furniture and upon her death, it was left to her only daughter, Princess Napoleone-Elise, who married Count Camerata of Ancona. Upon the deaths of the Princess and the Count, the Camerata castle and its contents of lavish Empire furniture (including this lot and lot 331 in this sale) were passed on to their son, Camerata Napoleon. Count Camerata died a bachelor in 1853 and left his entire estate to the poor of Rome. The contents of the estate were sold at auction in Rome at the turn of the century, at which point this desk (lot 335) and table (lot 331) were purchased by a New England Gentleman, in whose family they have remained.


  • Condition:

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November 5, 2017 12:00 PM EST
Boston, MA, US

Grogan & Company

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000