This exceedingly unusual desk accessory is an ornate 'paper clip' by the noted maker, Dreyfous. The clip is crafted from gilt sterling silver and features a large slab of polished amazonite along with a tiny enamelled clock to the centre top. There is a silver swag which encases the French phrase 'A Toute Heure Bonheur' which translates to 'Happiness at Any Time', perhaps a nod to the small enamelled clock housed in the clip. There are small marcasites in the floral detailing around the clock and the top of the clip, and the rear side of the piece is beautifully hand pierced.
Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary of England were both frequent customers of Edouard Henry Dreyfous, purchasing a range of works from his London locations. Aside from his main shop in London, Dreyfous also held premises in Paris and New York. There are three wonderful noted examples of works by Dreyfous in the Royal Collection, two of which are exceptionally good pieces with a similar quality of work to Faberge. One of these pieces is a enamelled and jewelled egg which was a gift to Queen Mary from her children at Christmas in 1927. Dreyfous was the holder of an English Royal Warrant during the early 20th Century.
After the piece was cleaned by our jeweller we had the watch mechanism refitted into the mount and sealed shut, however have not attempted to have the mechanism serviced to be in working order and is now purely decorative. To the ornate elements of the clip there were small marcasites set into the silver, however several of these have unfortunately been lost to time, leaving only a handful still mounted in the piece. The clip retains its original retailing box which has to the lid of the silk lining 'SPECIAL MAKER TO THE KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND' along with '582 FIFTH AVENUE PARIS AND LONDON' which could indicate this particular piece was retailed at their New York location. The clip is in fair antique condition, and has definitely been used, with wear to the gilding and mild abrasion to the silver, commensurate with age. This clip is likely one of a kind by an exceedingly desirable maker and is a truly special antique.
Marked - 'E.DREYFOUS' engraved to inside of the clip
Measures - 9cm W x 10cm H
Total weight of piece - 151 grams (excluding box)