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Lot Essay
Established by Theodore Millet in 1853, the Maison Millet operated until 1902 from premises at 11, rue Jacques-Coeur, Paris, before relocating to 23, Boulevard Beaumarchais. Specialising in 'meubles et bronzes d'art, genre ancien et moderne', with an accent on the Louis XV and XVI styles, Millet won awards in Paris and London including a gold medal at the 1889 Pairs Exposition Universelle, a Grand Prix in 1900 and three further diplomes d'honneur and four medailles d'or. In 1902 the firm was authorised by the director of the Palais de Versailles to replicate Marie-Antoinette's celebrated Grand cabinet bijoux. An auction of the firm's inventory was held in 1906 and they finally ceased trading in 1918.
An identical pair of vases was sold Christie's New York, 18 April 2013, lot 34 ($6,875 incl.) and a pair of verde maritaca vases with similar crown-shaped covers and serpent handles, but with additional foliate mounts and central portrait medallions of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, sold Sotheby's, New York, 25 April 2012, lot 98 ($15,000 incl.).
An identical pair of vases was sold Christie's New York, 18 April 2013, lot 34 ($6,875 incl.) and a pair of verde maritaca vases with similar crown-shaped covers and serpent handles, but with additional foliate mounts and central portrait medallions of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, sold Sotheby's, New York, 25 April 2012, lot 98 ($15,000 incl.).