Royal Provenance Musical Palais Royal necessaire with a huge number of fittings, every one original, in gold, silver gilt and mother-of pearl.  Absolutely complete and with no damage whatsoever. It is French dating from between 1810 and 1820 with a Swiss musical movement by David or Henri Lecoultre, serial number 105.

Provenance:

This fantastic box was a gift from Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon-Penthièvre, Duchess of Orléans (13March 1753 – 23 June 1821), who was the daughter of Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke de Penthievre and of Princess Maria Theresa Felisitas d’Este of Modena to the Honourable Lady Blackwood. Lady Anne Blackwood was married to James Stevenson Blackwood 2nd Baron Dufferin and Claneboye. MP from 1788 until 1818 and then went as a peer to the House of Lords until his death in 1836. He was a serious Older Statesman and Grandee. His wife Anne Dorothea Foster ( 1772-1865), Lady Blackwood to whom the Palais Royal casket was given died in 1865 at the age of 93. The Blackwood family were important political figures in England and Ireland in the 18th and 19th century.  Many were MPs and cabinet ministers in the English Government of the early 19 th century. The Bourbon’s poured money and gifts around Europe to gain political influence and aid the return ofthe French monarchy. The Duchess of Orleans sons were both heirs to the French throne and both these young men were living in England at this time and needed all the politically powerful friends that they could find.