TURMEAU FONDEURS in BORDEAUX Green patina bronze bell marked on three superimposed rows: 1 - "MARIA IOANNA CURIS D. D. CAROLI BOUTIN" probably referring to a person named "Marie Jeanne Curis", associated with a person named "Charles Boutin"; the abbreviation D.D. meaning "Dono Dedit" translates as "gave as a gift"; 2 - "AQUITANIA PROE FECTI OBLATA AD USUM AEDICULAE REGIAE DUVERDON" translating as "Offered to the Prefect of Aquitaine, made for the use of the Royal Chapel of Verdon"; 3 - "IDEM DOMINUS FUIT DOMINUS PATRINUS & DOMINA IONNA DE CHAUVELIN EIUS UXOR FUIT MATRINA" meaning "The same lord was the godfather, and Dame Jeanne de Chauvelin, his wife, was the godmother"; 4 - "ANNO DOMINI 1763" meaning "in the year of grace 1763". With applied decoration of a Virgin and Child, a coat of arms and a Cross bearing the founder's mark "Turmeau m'a faite à Bordeaux". Height: 57 cm - Diameter: 47 cm (the inner hoop that held the baton's shoulder strap is missing) Interpretation: * Marie Jeanne de Chauvelin gave this bell to Charles Boutin, who was Prefect of Aquitaine. The gift was intended for the royal chapel at Le Verdon. Charles Boutin and his wife, Jeanne de Chauvelin, were godfather and godmother of the chapel. * In the 18th century, Charles Robert Boutin (1722-1810), also known as Boutin de La Coulommière, was a French financier and clerk. He held a number of important positions, including Intendant of Finance and Conseiller d'Etat. * The Chapelle du Verdon in New Aquitaine was built between 1717 and 1722 at the request of the sailors of the estuary, as a branch of the church at Soulac.