A Saint-Cloud snuff box shaped as a small mammal, Circa 1740. photo Bonhams

Modelled crouching, decorated with elaborated polychrome and gilt chinoiserie scenes, the cover with similar decoration, set in a silver mount, 6.5cm long, French discharge mark for 1738-44 - Estimate: £1,800 - 2,200

Provenance: With Don Peppino Giglio;
Acquired from the above in 1973;
Collezione Procida Mirabelli di Lauro, Naples, no. 124

For comparable examples see Beaucamp-Markowsky (1985) p. 446. Another similar box in the shape of a dog is in Rondot (1999) p. 217, cat.no. 162.

A Saint-Cloud cane handle. Circa 1730-50. photo Bonhams

Shaped as a fantastical animal with large almond-shaped eyes, ears and dog-like snout, the sides and back decorated with chinoiserie landscapes and floral sprays, the back of the handle with a silver leaf-shaped re-enforcement 21cm wide (silver mount possibly concealing damage) - Estimate: £1,000 - 1,500

Provenance: With Lukacs-Donath;
Bought from the above in 1989;
Collezione Procida Mirabelli di Lauro, Naples, no. 146

For comparable anamorphic though somewhat more human cane handle see Rondot (1999) p.235 cat.no.185.

A rare Saint-Cloud cane handle. Circa 1730-40. photo Bonhams

Decorated with elaborate chinoiserie scenes of a Chinaman in a rock-work landscape and large flowering rocks, and elaborate bouquet sprouting from a Renaissance vase, the tip of the cane with a satyrs head, 6.5cm high (some rubbing) - Estimate: £800 - 1,200

Provenance: With Lucaks-Donath;
Acquired from the above in 1988;
Collezione Procida Mirabelli di Lauro, Naples, no. 180

The same shape of cane handle was used at the Du Paquier factory. A cane with very similar grotesque's head or fish head, made at Du Paquier between 1730-30, formerly in the Heinrich Lill Collection, is now in the Melinda and Paul Sullivan Collection and illustrated in their catalogue, see Chiltion (2009) p. 1159, cat.no. 381.

A Saint-Cloud cane handle. Circa 1730-40. photo Bonhams

decorated with two chinoiserie scenes in polychrome enamels, the top with a squatting Chinaman, 6cm high (some rubbing to enamels) - Estimate: £700 - 900

Provenance: With Lukacs-Donath;
Acquired from the above in 1973;
Collezione Procida Mirabelli di Lauro, Naples, no. 123

A Mennecy and Saint-Cloud cane handle, Circa 1730. photo Bonhams

Each decorated in underglaze-blue, the smaller Mennecy one with floral scrollwork the other with chinoiserie coin-patterns alternated by floral strapwork, a large bird in flight on the top, 4.5 and 5.5cm high, D.V. in underglaze-blue (small glaze crack to Mennecy cane) (2) - Estimate: £800 - 1,200

Provenance: Both with Gabriel Peyre;
Acquired from the above in 2001 and 1997 respectively;
Collezione Procida Mirabelli di Lauro, Naples, no. 197 and 195

A pair of Saint Cloud cups and saucers, Circa 1720-30. photo Bonhams

Decorated with a moulded pattern after the Chinese Blanc de Chine example with three large prunus twigs, the saucers with heightened trembleuse galleries, the handles of the cups of baroque scroll shape with acanthus-leaf terminals, (one minute chip to one of the galleries) (4) - Estimate: £500 - 700

Provenance: With Brandi;
Acquired from the above in 1974;
Collezione Procida Mirabelli di Lauro, Naples, no. 128
Bonhams. Fine European Ceramics including the Collezione Procida Mirabelli di Lauro, 6 Jul 2010. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com