Antique French Necessaire, Vernis Martin Etui with all Implements, French Silver
A charming remnant of the old 1700s-1800s French pocket 'necessaire' carried by most gentlemen in a vest pocket, by military officers in field, by ladies, as well. This is a rather unique one I just found in Paris. The body is marked with the French boar's head profile punch mark, guarantee used from 1838 forward for .800/1000 pure silver or 2nd titre. The grade of silver is used for small and often delicate items where strength was a concern, so we see it in sewing sets quite often and in small treasures like this. The body has an outer coating, probably leather or perhaps shagreen, that has been worked in the layered decorative style known as "Vernis Martin" or 'varnish Martin' taken from the Martin Brothers technique popularized during the reign of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. The Martins layered paints and varnishes to get a deep and thrilling surface that could not be done in other ways. The varnish often darkens over time and so many of these items are now much more muted in t