Details
In the rococo style, with scrolling border, shell and flower motifs, comprising: a cartouche-shaped mirror, the ebonised back with easel support and silver mounts; three graduated shaped oblong boxes with engraved glass bodies; a pair of circular boxes with engraved glass bodies; a pair of scent bottles and stands with engraved glass bodies; a pin cushion; a table-bell; a chamberstick; a hand mirror; a pair of candlesticks; an oval basin; a footed beaker; two clothes brushes; a hair brush; and an oval tray, each engraved with coat-of-arms, fully marked
all in red velvet lined leather covered wooden case painted '3003', with remains of paper label to reverse 'Eigentum Ihrer / K. u. K. **/ der ** / Erzherzogi** / Marie-Anne', gilt embossed maker's stamp 'J.C. KLINKOSCH / vorm. MAYERHOFER & KLINKOSCH / K. u K. HOF u. KAMMER-LIEFERANT / WIEN'
The mirror, 2258 in. (57.4 cm.) high
The case: 23 3/4 in. (60.3 cm.) wide
85 oz. 14 dwt. (2,666 gr.) weighable silver
The arms are those of Elias, Duke of Parma, and his consort Archduchess Maria-Anna of Austria.
Provenance
Property of a European Royal Family; Sotheby's, London, 14 April 2011, lot 127.
Special notice
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.
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Lot Essay


This toilet service was probably a wedding gift to Elias, Duke of Parma (1880 – 1959) and the Archduchess Maria-Anna of Austria (1882-1940), daughter of the Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen, celebrated on 25th May 1903 in Vienna.

Under Emperor Franz Joseph, the firm of Klinkosch had an importance comparable to that of Fabergé for Emperor Nicholas II. Founded by the goldsmiths J. Mayerhofer and C. Klinkosch, the firm received a silver medal in 1835 and a gold medal in 1839. Under the direction of Josef Carl Klinkosch (1822-1888) and his two sons Isidor (1852-1914) and Arthur (1854-c.1900), the firm became the most important suppliers of gold and silverware to the Imperial Court of Austria.

The firm was patronised by established European nobility as well as the new elite. Princess Thyra of Denmark (1853-1933), later Duchess of Cumberland, Princess of Hanover, Brunswick and Luneberg commissioned christening gifts for Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. A service of plate was made for Baron Eugéne Fould and his wife Mitzi, only daughter and heiress of Baron Gustav Springer, an Austro-Hungarian industrial magnate. Klinkosch also worked in gold, creating a lavish kovsh as a wedding present from the Bulgarian prime minister Stefan Stambulov to Princess Marie-Louise of Bourbon-Parma (1870-1899) on the occasion of her marriage to Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, Prince of Bulgaria, and from 3 April 1893 onward, King of Bulgaria. Beside this toilet service, Klinkosch also supplied the Bourbon-Parma with several commissions including plates and coffee services.

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