A Gentleman's Toiletry And Writing Set In Walnut Burl – Attributed To Mayor,

Consulate-Empire Period. A gentleman's travel kit, combining grooming and writing equipment, presented in an elegant rectangular case veneered in walnut burl with dense swirls and characteristic "eyes." Parisian work from the early 19th century, attributable to the Maire firm, a renowned manufacturer located on Rue Saint-Honoré. The case is encircled with brass stringing and reinforced at the corners with brass spandrels. The lid is adorned with a brass cartouche intended for initials. The exterior surfaces have been carefully restored: stripped, polished, and revarnished, restoring the warm luster of the walnut burl. Interior and contents: The interior, lined in red and green morocco leather, contains a very complete gentleman's grooming kit: Toiletries: A folding razor, shaving brush, scissors, various ivory and steel instruments, perfume bottles, octagonal flasks, and a small glass. Writing set: ivory penholder, two small bottles for ink or powders to dry, and in the bottom of the lid, a bellows concealed behind the mirror—a rare and typical feature of a gentleman's writing kit. One of the utensils bears a printed label: "Razor Leather, from the MAIRE Factory, Rue St-Honoré, No. 154. Where you will find complete kits… In Paris." This label allows us to attribute the set to the Maire company. Two small utensils are missing, indicated by their empty slots, but this does not detract from the overall coherence of the set. The case retains its original, functional lock and its original iron key. Dimensions: Width: 10.7 cm, Depth: 22 cm, Height: 7.8 cm. History – The Maire Company: Active from the second half of the 18th century, under Louis XVI, the Maire company was among the leading Parisian manufacturers of travel cases, writing instruments, and toiletries, a direct competitor of Biennais. Closely linked to aristocratic taste and then to the bourgeois elegance of the turn of the century, it produced pieces of very high quality, in shagreen, fine morocco leather, or precious woods. Under the Consulate and the Empire, Maire reached the pinnacle of its excellence: its cases for officers, travelers, and high-ranking officials combined functionality and sophistication, often equipped with ivory accessories, fine steel instruments, cut crystal bottles, and miniature bellows for both grooming and maintaining seals. These combined toiletry and writing cases are among the company's most accomplished creations. When Maire refused to extend credit to Emperor Napoleon, Biennais became the emperor's supplier. The presence of an original, extremely rare Maire label provides valuable dating and attribution, and testifies to the prestigious provenance of this set.