19th CENTURY OFFICE THERMOMETER A mahogany mercury thermometer with chased and gilded bronze fittings, surmounted by a profile of Athena. Base engraved "L'Ing. Chevalier. Optician to the King. Vis à vis le marché aux Fleurs à Paris". H. 31 cm high B.E. Biography : The engineer CHEVALLIER (1778-1848) took over the workshop of François Trochon, his grandfather, next to the Palais de Justice in the Ile de la Cité. Famous manufacturer and supplier of measuring instruments. Provenance : Former Napoleonic collection of the Palais Princier de Monaco (3rd sale, lot 236). A desk mercury thermometer in mahogany wood and gilt and chiseled bronze, from the 19th C. Commentary: According to the inventories of the Napoleonic Museum of the Princely Palace of Monaco, when this thermometer was purchased in 1927, it came from Napoleon's desk during his stay at Schönbrunn. It was bought from Madame la comtesse Schlick, who inherited it from her family.