Leuchars & Son – Complete Travelling Spirit Stove Set, Circa 1880

Complete travelling set in silver-plated metal by the house of LEUCHARS, appointed Purveyor to Queen Victoria, Rue de la Paix in Paris. It comprises a saucepan with a hinged wooden handle, together with its burner and alcohol reservoir. The various pieces, entirely plain, are designed to fit one inside the other so that only the small pan remains visible, the other elements nesting within according to the compact systems characteristic of travelling sets of the late nineteenth century.

• Lid: LEUCHARS & SON PARIS GEFFROY SUCCR.
• Saucepan: LEUCHARS RUE DE LA PAIX PARIS; inventory number 6 R 1334; silver-plating gauge mark.
• Stove: LEUCHARS & SON PARIS GEFFROY SUCCR.

• Height: 11.6 cm
• Length: 15.5 cm
• Diameter: 8 cm

Very good overall condition. Minor wear and some oxidation to the stove grilles. These elements have been preserved in their original state of use in order to maintain the authenticity of the ensemble. The removable support parts show only superficial wear.

The house of LEUCHARS is founded in London at the end of the eighteenth century and soon becomes one of the leading names in British luxury. It is distinguished by its travelling sets, refined cases and finely crafted leather goods. Under the guidance of Lucy LEUCHARS and her son, the firm acquires an international reputation and receives the distinction of supplier to Queen VICTORIA, a mark of excellence and savoir-faire.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, LEUCHARS expands onto the Continent and opens a prestigious boutique at number two Rue de la Paix in Paris. This emblematic address of Parisian luxury becomes the showcase of the house, where a selection of elegant objects intended for travel, toilette and the art of living is presented. The firm participates in major international exhibitions and receives several distinctions, including a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1878, further enhancing its prestige.

Pieces bearing the LEUCHARS signature or the mention London and Paris testify today to this cosmopolitan world where English elegance meets Parisian refinement. They reflect a precise taste for the quality of materials, the balance of proportions and the art of presentation that characterise the international clientele the house attracts during this period.