Rare French Watch Holder - 18th Century - Louis XIV "ll" Monogram

Rare French pocket onion watch stand ca early 18th C. likely from Royal provenance  marked with Louis XIV "Double L" monogram and dove featuring the Holy Spirit order of the French Knights.

It is a very unique piece of collection having the Holy Spirit order inversed dove as opposed to the ones known  in the French MAD and V&A museums collections.

Under Louis XIV, the monogram (ciffer) consisted in two facing capital Ls in cursive script. It is repeated on most monuments and on most of the rooms and objects furnishing the Royal palaces.

Made of a wooden case of curved outline, covered with leather in imitation of tortoiseshell with gilt enrichments in relief consisting of militaries trophies,  mask,  scrolls, shells, French Order of the Holy Spirit figurated by a dove. The pediment-stamped top is hinged and form the lid of a compartiment for containing a watch.

On  the sides the monogram of  King Louis XIV (interlaced double L) is stating potential royal provenance.

This is a very rare collectible object as rarely seen in auction houses having two similar ones identified: one in Paris Musée des Arts Décoratifs and another one  in London Albert & Victoria Museum.

Similar objects as references:
- A similar pocket watch stand is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum collections in London -  Fitzhenry bequest in 1914 as reproduced in Tardy (3rd edition), p. 142
- Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris - Inventory A 146 - Louis XIV period watch holder with an ink inscription underneath: " belongs to the King and from the Palace of Versailles." This item was part of the MAD exhibition "Trompe l'oeil. Imitations, Pastiches and other illusions" from February 2, 2012 to November 15, 2013.
- Lot 187, Daguerre Auction House in 2009 - Louis XIV period watch stand, wood and leather, monogram of King Louis XIV - sold for €3,400 (expert Derouineau).

Sold in "as is " condition  (missing and slight leather detachments).

Shipping conditions:
The transportation cost for France is covered within the displayed price. For any clock shipping outside of France , we are working with transport companies of trust and the tranportation cost will be charged to the purchaser upon his acceptance of the quote.