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1 of 253523 objects
Travelling service c.1788-1819
Mahogany, brass, leather; with silver gilt, steel, ivory, glass, mother of pearl, silk | 11840.0 g (Weight) (whole object) | RCIN 50467
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A mahogany and brass-mounted box, lined with tooled red leather and containing a French silver-gilt, ivory, mother of pearl and cut-glass travelling service, the pieces packed into fitted leather trays. Many pieces are engraved with crowned GR or GPR cipher with Garter. The case contains items for the toilet including a mirror, shaving brush, razors, strop and bowl, scissors, bottles for cologne, a dental kit, ear spoons, brush and combs, nail clippers, tweezers, an eyebath, needlecase and boot hooks. In addition, there are implements for writing (pen, pencil, penknife, seal and candlestick), a tea and chocolate service with a small spirit burner, flatware and cutlery and a watch-winder with six different keys.
Pierre Leplain is best known as the goldsmith who worked with the ébéniste Felix Rémond and the steel worker Reynard Schey as a supplier of travelling services to Napoleon. An example created for Empress Josephine in 1806 is in the museum of Malmaison.Provenance
Presented to General Sir Benjamin Bloomfield in 1819, by George IV, when Prince Regent. Returned to the Royal Collection at an unknown date.
Sir Benjamin Bloomfield (1768-1846) was Private Secretary to the Prince Regent and later King between 1817 and 1822. Having begun his career in the military, he first became Gentleman in Waiting to George III in 1806 and then went on to act as MP for Plymouth and for one year was a Privy Councillor (1817). Bloomfield held in succession the posts of Aide de Camp, Chief Equerry, Clerk Marshall and finally Private Secretary to George IV and for a while combined the latter with the role of Keeper of the Privy Purse. In 1822 however, he fell from favour. He was knighted in 1815 and ennobled in 1825.
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Creator(s)
(goldsmith)(goldsmith)(nationality)
