Sevres: a biscuit porcelain figure group, designed after Louis Simon Boizot, the group representing L'Amour Medecin, the whole raised on an oval pedestal with gilt borders, impressed marks, with a tooled leather presentation case, inset with a metal plaque, engraved with a personal inscription "Offert Par La Marine Francaise, Deputy Surgeon General, James Lawrence Smith, Directeur Du Service De Santeamalte", 31.5 cm high x 29.5 cm long.

Surgeon Rear Admiral James Lawrence-Smith RN (1862-1945), was favoured by Queen Victoria and various members of her family. His services to them were honoured by the Queen herself who made him a Member of the Victorian Order.

He was serving in Malta as Surgeon General where he was placed in charge of the famous Bighi Hospital. There, in a scribbled diary, he recorded the very start of the First World War.

The French Fleet were stationed in Malta during this period and in honour of his services to so many of their personnel, the French Government made him a Member of The Legion D’Honour with its exquisite porcelain figure marking his Membership.

The people of Malta, too, honoured him and in gratitude for all that he had done for them they presented him with the gift of the magnificent marquetry chest (see another lot in this sale) which, with other memorabilia, passed down to his only son, Surgeon Commander Alexander Maxwell Lawrence-Smith. Retained in the family by descent.

Condition Report

The large male figure's index finger is missing and the quiver has been off and re-glued.

The top of the retort may be missing.