The Duchess of Talleyrand jewelry box - Fichet by 1900

A steel travel safe, decorated on all sides with trompe l'oeil painted faux-bois simulating a geometric marquetry of quartefeuille in the style of the 18th century. It is fitted with two gilded bronze side handles. The security lock is secured by a key, the opening of which is protected by a ciphered combination that can be dialed using the two gilded bronze knobs visible on the front panel.
Signed Fichet on the lock.
The serial number 190.222.A engraved on the lock and on the underside of the case.

Provenance: collection of the Duchess of Sagan, Château du Marais.


Anna Gould (1878-1961), heiress of American railroad magnate Jay Gould (1836-1892), was one of the American dollar princesses of the Belle Époque. First married to Boniface de Castellane, then in 1908 to Hélie de Talleyrand, Duc de Sagan, it was at the time of her marriage to Boni de Castellane that she acquired the Château du Marais in 1897, which passed through the descendants of her daughter Violette de Talleyrand until its sale in 2022. Anna Gould was also the owner of the Palais Rose in Paris, built by the architect Sanson and inaugurated in 1902.

This jewelry chest, imitating a Louis XVI period marquetry chest, typical of the elegant accessories of the Belle Époque, was probably the showcase, in the Marais and during her travels, for the jewels of the Duchess de Sagan, a legendary diamond, pearl and ruby collector and client of Cartier and Boucheron. Its sheet-steel armouring and key opening, which can only be achieved by dialling a secret combination, is completely undetectable at first glance.

The Fichet company, founded by locksmith Alexandre Fichet (1799-1862), inventor in 1829 of a security lock and supplier to King Louis Philippe, specialized in the manufacture of safes. At the dawn of the First World War, the company employed over 1,600 workers.