French royal family treasures up for auction
IT is possible to gain a rare look into the life of the French royal family when items are put up for auction in Paris this week, which includes a silk purse embroidered by Marie-Antoinette.
Christie’s will be handling the sale of hundreds of items from the late Monseigneur le Comte de Paris and Madame la Comtesse de Paris’s residence in rue Miromesnil, and they offer a glimpse into a family that ruled over France for almost 1,000 years.
One item stands out, although there are many other interesting lots owned by members of the Orléans family, and that is the purse embroidered by Queen Marie-Antoinette whilst she was held captive in prison.
It was given to the Dauphin’s governess, Madame de Tourzel, who passed it on to Marie-Antoinette’s daughter Madame Royale in December 1795 when she was released from La prison du Temple as a final memory of her late mother.
The purse is estimated to sell for around €15,000.
Another rare and personal object is a wooden box decorated with a miniature depicting the young Louis XVII in jail, as well as approximately 60 seals from the 19th century that bear the arms of the Orléans family and either the Royal or Imperial crown, or the French fleur de lys.
The sale takes place on October 14, and you can browse the lots of the late Count and Countess of Paris.
Just missed it, I would have definitely bid on the purse, looked like a real bargain.
Posted by: BrianRS | 12/10/2008 at 10:55
Sorry should have said I will be in Paris on the 19th October.
Posted by: BrianRS | 12/10/2008 at 10:56