A stained birch musical sewing nŽcessaire French circa 1810 of casket form almost complete with a

A stained birch musical sewing nŽcessaire French circa 1810 of casket form almost complete with a multitude of fittings including gold implements with petite garantie for Paris 1809-1819: a pair of scissors maker's mark of Charles-Louis Deserre; a needlecase; a thimble maker's mark of Pierre Legoix; a stiletto; a retractable pencil; a bodkin; and a gold-capped glass scent bottle; the box also containing several silver-gilt objects including: a scent funnel and eye bath both with Paris petite garantie for silver 1798-1809; a telescope double maker's mark rubbed green lacquer barrel; six silver-gilt mounted glass bottles one associated; and several carved mother of pearl implements including a penknife quill sharpener ruler desk seal and spools; the movement playing two tunes with key width of box 30cm 11.75in Provenance According to family repute and an attached document "This workbox belonged to the Duchess of Orleans widow of [Philippe] "Egalite" & was given by her to the Honble Lady Blackwood." Often mistakenly classifed as 'mulberry' birch was stained to simulate tortoiseshell.