Peter II The Mayor and Baradelle. 18th century... Lot 125

Peter II The Mayor and Baradelle. 18th century Architect's case of oval section. In two parts with rounded ends in grained leather. Two velvet lined lids hinged opening with a push-button. In one compartment, placed in their housing: 3 ivory shelves joined by a silver rivet, a silver pencil holder, a hinged silver proportion compass (or pied de Roy) engraved on both sides and signed "Le Maire fils à Paris", a silver compass with interchangeable steel tips, two pen holders with their yellow gold nibs. The opposite compartment contains two ebony (?) nib holders with their yellow gold nibs and a silver travel inkwell signed "Baradelle/ A Paris 12° 698". First third of the 18th century. L. 13,5 cm Gross weight of the silver elements : 108 g (two small empty compartments) Provenance : Attic of a Beaujolais castle. Son of Pierre I Le Maire (active around 1668) and nephew of Jacques Le Maire, member of the Société des Arts, Pierre II signs his instruments "Le Maire fils" to distinguish himself from his father. Pierre I Le Maire is a renowned expert, the King's engineer who lives in the heart of the scientific instrument manufacturers' district in Paris, on the Quai de l'Horloge du Palais, under the sign "Au nouveau quartier Anglais". He works closely with the academicians Duhamel du Monceau and La Condamine. Measuring instruments in the 18th century are the object of the greatest refinement and consideration, the 8 pages that Diderot devotes to the compass of proportion in his Encyclopedia are a great testimony to this.