The engraving was probably early 19th century but the spoons dated from c.1745, when the second son of The Old Pretender was aiding his brother, Bonnie Prince Charlie, in rebellion. After the defeat at Culloden Moor, he became one of the longest serving cardinals in the history of the Roman Catholic Church and - while he adopted the title King Henry IX & I when, in 1788, he became the last of the direct male line of James II and VII - he spent his last years in Italy living off a stipend from the British crown.
On his death, all his property was entrusted to Monsignor Angelo Cesarini for distribution. Cesarini sent the Prince Regent several jewels from Henry's private collection. These included a Lesser George (thought to have been worn by King Charles I at his execution and now at Windsor Castle) and a St Andrew's Cross (now at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh). Perhaps these spoons were part of that dispersal? Certainly enough bidders believed in them for they sold at £1100 (estimate £200-250).
This was one of three lots of Jacobite interest in the Woolley & Wallis sale. Although the likeness was initially thought to be of Louis XV, the enamelled portrait to the interior of a French gold-mounted tortoiseshell snuffbox was more probably of Charles Edward Stuart. It was inscribed to the closure Artus (perhaps a Paris retailer) and marked for Paris 1747. It had some damage and repair but quadrupled the estimate at £3500. Sold at £2400 (estimate £500-700) was an unmarked George II silver gilt oblong snuffbox set to the cover with a more recognisable miniature portrait of Charles Edward Stuart behind glass, c.1745.
