λ An 18th century French ivory caricature relief portrait bust

λ An 18th century French ivory caricature relief portrait bust, of a man wearing a hood and a fleur de lis on his cloak, 9.8 x 7cm, mounted in an 18th century carved giltwood frame.

This bust is very similar to a set of seventeen sold by Sotheby's, London, Wednesday 16th December 1998, Lot 99, where they were attributed to Huguenots carvers in reply to their persecution after the revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685. The portrait reliefs are of the leading figures working in France for the extermination of the Huguenots.

Provenance: The part contents of a Wiltshire Rectory.