SÈvres: 2 Large Biscuit Medallions '' Napoleon III And Eugenie '', 2nd Empire

Pair of large hard porcelain biscuit medallions from the imperial manufacture of Sèvres, dated 1866 depicting "Napoleon III Emperor" and his wife "Eugénie Impératrice", Engraved at the center J.PEYRE F. and E. De NIEUWERKERKE DIR Diam: 23 cm.
Emilien de Nieuwerkerke: Alfred Émilien O'Hara van Nieuwerkerke, count of Nieuwerkerke (1811-1892), exercised real supervision over artistic institutions in the Second Empire. Born in Paris, Alfred Emilien de Nieuwerkerke met in 1845 Mathilde Bonaparte, cousin of the future Napoleon III, who would be his companion for twenty-five years. It was thanks to her that he knew a rapid social ascent: he was appointed director general of the national museums - then imperial - in 1849, intendant of Fine Arts in 1853 and superintendent ten years later. He fulfilled his functions until the fall, in 1870, of the regime to which he was closely linked; he then went into exile in England then in Italy, near Lucca (Tuscany), where he died in 1892. Jules-Constant-Jean-Baptiste PEYRE: (Sedan 1811-1871) Draftsman. Sculptor at the Manufacture de Sèvres
To be compared to a similar lot sold at Osenat Collection Franceschini PIETRI (1835-1915) from Sunday 01 April 2012: https://www.osenat.com/lot/12007/2335647