Duchesse de Tourzel's "Monument d'argent", - Lot 106

Duchesse de Tourzel's "Monument d'argent", reliquary sarcophagus containing locks of hair from Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Louis XVII and Madame Elisabeth In silver, surmounted by a cross, a royal crown and an arrow. The lid is decorated with tears and the coat of arms of France in an ouroboros medallion. A concealed closure allows the sarcophagus to be opened to reveal, under a glass plate with four compartments, the preserved locks of hair of King Louis XVI, Queen Marie-Antoinette, their son the Dauphin Louis-Charles, and Madame Elisabeth. Inside, an inscription on a plate divided into four registers in four registers reads: "Hair of Louis XVI King of France and Navarre born in Versailles on August 23, 1754 Died in Paris on January 21, 1793. Hair of Marie Antoinette Archduchess of Austria Queen of France and Navarre born in Vienna on November 2, 1755 Died in Paris on October 16, 1793. Hair of Louis Charles Dauphin de France born in Versailles on March 27, 1785 Died in Paris in the Tour du Temple on June 12, 1795. Hair of Elisabeth Philippine Marie Helene de France Sister of Louis Seize born in Versailles May 3, 1764 Died in Paris on May 10, 1794. On the reverse of the four compartments, a second plate engraved: "Extrait du testament de Louise Josephine de Croy d'Havre, Duchesse de Tourzel, governess of the Enfants de France, widow of Louis François du Bouchet Marquis de Sourches. Comte de Montsoreau, Marquis de Tourzel, Grand Provost of France. ..., "I leave to Olivier de Tourzel my grandson, my small silver monument containing the hair of the King, the Queen, the young Dauphin and Madame Elisabeth". Olivier du Bouchet de Sourches Duc de Tourzel left the small monument in question to his elder sister the Duchesse des Cars." It stands on four ormolu lion claw feet. Restoration period. Trace of signature on the base to be deciphered and numbering on the hinge. Height 16.5 Width 22.5 Depth 8.4 cm Provenance : - Duchesse de Tourzel (1749-1832), governess of the Enfants de France. de France, preserved in her descendants. Exhibitions: - La reine Marie-Antoinette et sa cour", Bibliothèque de Versailles de Versailles, May-June 1927, p. 57, no. 297. - Commemoration of the French Revolution", Paris Musée Carnavalet, 1939, p. 65, no. 442. - Marie-Antoinette Archduchess, Dauphine and Queen", Château de Versailles, May 16 to November 2 1955.