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JERVIS (JOHN, 1st EARL ST. VINCENT) Scent box in book form with intricate silver wire work decoration, sent from Italy by the then Captain Jervis to Martha Parker, and containing small glass phials for the scents, [Italy or central European, eighteenth century] image 1
JERVIS (JOHN, 1st EARL ST. VINCENT) Scent box in book form with intricate silver wire work decoration, sent from Italy by the then Captain Jervis to Martha Parker, and containing small glass phials for the scents, [Italy or central European, eighteenth century] image 2
JERVIS (JOHN, 1st EARL ST. VINCENT) Scent box in book form with intricate silver wire work decoration, sent from Italy by the then Captain Jervis to Martha Parker, and containing small glass phials for the scents, [Italy or central European, eighteenth century] image 3
Lot 10

JERVIS (JOHN, 1st EARL ST. VINCENT)
Scent box in book form with intricate silver wire work decoration, sent from Italy by the then Captain Jervis to Martha Parker, and containing small glass phials for the scents, [Italy or central European, eighteenth century]

20 November 2024, 13:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £1,536 inc. premium

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JERVIS (JOHN, 1st EARL ST. VINCENT)

Scent box in book form with intricate silver wire work decoration, sent from Italy by the then Captain Jervis to Martha Parker, and containing small glass phials for the scents, the covers and spine of the box covered with olive green silk and embroidered with an elaborate floral silver wire work design within a triple outer border, 4 smaller flowers composed of glass bugle beads (one on lower cover defective), spine with 4 diamond-shaped wire work onlays (2 slightly damaged), the inside front cover/lid covered with Italian wood-blocked 'endpaper', gilt painted edges, silk and wire work-covered clasps (intact but not closeable), the 12 empty phials resting on cotton wool and mostly labelled in Italian ('Spirito di Gelsomini', 'Q. Ess. di Arance', 'Q. Ess. di erba Maria', 'Q. Essen di Cedrato', 'Essenza di Finocchio'), 195 x 135mm., [Italy or central European, eighteenth century]

Footnotes

'ESSENCE FOR TOILETTES' IN A BOX WITH EXQUISITE WIRE WORK EMBROIDERY - ONE OF A PAIR SENT FROM GENOA BY CAPTAIN JOHN JERVIS FOR HIS INTENDED.

The story of Jervis's twenty-year frustrated courtship of his cousin Martha Parker, and his close relationship with his sister and sometime go-between Mary, is recounted by Evelyn Beckman in Nelson's Dear Lord. A Portrait of St. Vincent, 1962, pp.202-218. In his earlier years Jervis treated Martha with great deference and always referred to her as "Miss Parker", her higher social standing making it impossible for a jobless naval captain to propose to her, and raising fears that other suitors might be more favourably looked upon. The picture did change somewhat in February 1769, when Jervis was appointed to the 32-gun frigate Alarm, tasked with delivering bullion to British merchants in Genoa, but despite his improved situation, he continued to harbour doubts and at times gave up all hope of the marriage, whilst continuing to send back presents for her.

That September he wrote to Mary, enclosing "a bill of lading for two little boxes of Essence for toilettes, packed up in a deal case and addressed to Miss Parker". Having misgivings about sending the boxes, he goes on to ask Mary to intercept them, and to "dispose of them how you please", but again changes his mind, and later writes "Should the boxes of Essence come safe, present one to Miss Parker". There is no record of whether both boxes had arrived safely, but Jervis and Martha died without issue (after a series of further ups and down they had eventually married in 1783), meaning that both boxes may well have ended up in Mary's side of the family.

Provenance: Admiral John Jervis, 1st Earl St Vincent (1735-1823); Martha Parker or Mary Jervis; by descent to J.M.C. Lysons (1924-2018) and to the present owners.

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