An oval sardonyx cup mounted on a cast and fully chased silver foot. The silver foot is decorated with fleur-de-lys motifs, cast in relief and finely chased. The stem, cast in the round in the form of a fleur-de-lys, supports the sardonyx cup in a bezel mount surrounded by beading. The hardstone cup itself features two bold white striations and, when held to light, shows the characteristic reddish-brown colors of sardonyx. The silver base is marked with an indistinct maker's mark on the foot's rim and also bears the French export mark where the stem and foot meet, and around the bezel mount where the cup joins the stem (Head of Mercury in an octagon, facing left, 1840-1879). The prominent fleur-de-lys, a clear reference to the House of Bourbon, suggests the cup was likely made between 1840-1848. Louis Philippe d'Orléans ascended the throne after the July Revolution of 1830 as 'King of the French' and was the penultimate monarch of France. The Orléanists remained in power until 1848.

Export mark for France: Head of Mercury in an octagon, facing left, 1840-1879.


4.125 x 4.5 x 3.25 in (10.48 x 11.5 x 8.3 cm)

Condition:
Overall excellent condition. There are no breaks or repairs to the sardonyx. A circular light patch is noted inside the basin of the sardonyx bowl. Traces of faded gold vermeil are visible on the silver foot.