in the Regence taste, comprising: dressing table mirror, marks rubbed, 61.5cm., 24 1/4 in. high, a pair of large caskets, Fs. X/Jan, Madrid, 26cm., 10 1/4 in. long, a ewer and basin, Noel Leonard, Paris, 1726, the ewer 22cm., high; a pair of candlesticks, one with maker's mark of Juan Munoz, 17.1cm., 6 3/4 in. high; two large circular boxes, one with the marks of Matias Christobal, the other with Paris decharge for 1722-26, 13cm., 5 1/8 in. diameter; two smaller boxes, Matias Christobal, Madrid, 8cm.,  3 1/8 in. diameter; a pair of covered cache pots, and one other, with foliate finials, the pair, Fs. X/Jan, Madrid, the single Paris, 1726-32, 9.3cm., 3 5/8 in. high; a salver on foot, Juan Munoz, 1712, 24.8cm., 9 3/4 in. long; a pin-cushion, Juan Munoz, 1712, 15cm., 5 7/8in. long; together with a brush, apparently unmarked, 16cm., 6 1/4 in. long; and a table bell, Jean Baptiste Claude Odiot, Paris, 1819-38, 12cm., 4 3/4 in. high, all in a fitted trunk with single drawer

All pieces engraved with the arms of Pereira and Lacerda, used by the Quaresma family of Portugal.

Large Circular Toilet Boxes - Good gauge. Covers fit well. One box with later accolle arms to underside. Chasing to both is rubbed but coats of arms are crisp. Brush - Tax Mark visible only. Crisp armorials. Chasing is rubbed throughout. Nice gauge and gilding. Replaced brush. Tazza - Nice gauge. Chasing rubbed, Armorials crisp. Marks rubbed but legible to rim of foot. Marks also to underside, very crisp. Strapwork to base also nice and sharp, Ewer - Nice heavy gauge. Marks to rim under handle very rubbed and only partially visible. Chasing is very rubbed as are the high points of the applied decoration. Overall worn. Basin - Clear marks to the rim of the underside. Crisp armorials. Gilding a little rubbed but nice colour. Chasing again significantly rubbed. Cache pot - Marks generally clear to underside. Chasing to the border and cover very rubbed. Nice gauge. Later accolle arms to inside cover. Pair cache pots - Marks very rubbed and partially legible to undersides. One finial to cover is very loose. Crisp armorials. Chasing very rubbed. Mirror - glass swill need replacing if to be used for purpose. Decoration worn to high points. Wood back later added/replaced. Case - Generally good for age. No key. Typical exterior wear but generally good. Large Rectangular toilet boxes - Very heavy gauge. Marks fairly clear to interior bases. Armorials crisp. Chasing rubbed but not as much as ewer. Covers possibly previously erased. Bell - Later matched. Clear marks. Good condition. Pin Cushion - The pad is worn with red faded. Marks to underside very rubbed but legible. Armorials crisp. Chasing rubbe. Nice gauge as usual. Candlesticks - Marks to sconces illegible, one completely lost. Chasing and casting generally good. Significant repair to rim of one base, probably dropped. Small circular boxes - Clear marks to undersides. Crisp armorials. Chasing rubbed. Nice gauge. No obvious repairs. Overall The condition is generally quite worn, especially to the chasing and the engraved coat of arms appear to be later. Some marks are better than others depending on their position on the object. A well matched service which has had regular usage. The gilding is possibly later on some pieces.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In addition to these coats of arms, those of King José I of Portugal (1714-1777), who ascended the throne in 1750, and of his wife, Mariana-Victoria de Bourbon (1718-1781), daughter of Philippe V of Spain, can also be found on the bottom of the large French circular box, and on the inside of the cover of the French powder box.

The Lacerda arms are those of Antonio Verissimo Pereira et Lacerda, born on 11 October 1714, son of Francisco Pereira et Lacerda, a general of the Portuguese cavalry. He was the captain of the infantry for the battalion of Setubal, commander of S. Mamede de Canellas, major governor of Trancozo and a familiar of the Holy Office. In 1745 he married Catarina of Bourbon, who was🐬 born on 22 March 1725 and was the daughter of D. Jean de Almeida, the counsel to Queen Anne of Austria, who was the wife of Joao V of Portugal and mother of José I.

We were not able to find documents which explain why two of the pieces from the set are engraved with both royal coat of arms and those of Lacꦚerda. There is certainly a connection between the royal household and th𒁏e father of Catherina of Bourbon who was the dowager queen’s counsel.

We can assume that these Spanish items were brought to Portuga🏅l by Mariana of Bourbon, that the set was completed with Parisian pieces and that all items were engraved with coats of arms by Antonio Lacerda and Catherina of Bourbon, either after they had received𒊎 them as gifts or after they had bought them for the royal family after 1745, the year of their wedding.

The initials MPLCB that are depicted on the box could stand for Pereira/Lacerda/Caterina/Bourbon. Only the ‘M’ remains inexplicable, but it could refer to a second forename of Antonio Pereira ✨et Lacerda.

The marks Fs X/Jan., which appears on the items of this service, has not been identified, just as it is the case for the majority of marks of masters from Madrid active a♔t the beginning of the 18th century.