Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A French gold and enamel vesta case, circa 1900, of rectangular form with sloping sprung hinged lid, enamelled throughout, the front and reverse depicting images of Fanny Legrand, in two different black gowns, front panel with artist’s monogram, dimensions 50 x 36 x 10mm. £500-£600

The image to the reverse of the vesta case is after the oil painting by Italian artist Ignace Spiridon, painted in 1894, depicting Fanny LeGrand, the main character from the French author Alfonce Duadet’s novel ‘Sappho’, published in 1884. The story was a thinly disguised autobiographical account of Daudet's love affair with the notorious Parisian model-cum-courtesan, Marie Rieu, the story perhaps written as moral tale intended for his two sons to read when of age.

In 1900, an American play of the same name, ‘Sapho’ (sic) was produced by Clyde Fitch, and based on the 1884 French novel. The play caused a sensation in New York City leading to an indecency trial involving the play's star and producer/director, Olga Nethersole. The court case was ultimately considered to be a landmark case in the transformation of American society away from the Victorian morals of the past.


Spiridon’s painting was used as the basis for the theatre posters advertising Olga Nethersole’s role in the play. The Broadway poster shows a more modest version of the dress length than seen in the original painting.