SEBASTIANI family mourning visit cards
Books & Magazines
Inventory number
2021.11.16.20ad.BM.OT.C1909.FRDescription
Set of 4 visiting cards belonging to the SEBASTIANI family printed on cardboard in similar sizes. There is the visiting card of the Viscount and Viscountess of SEBASTIANI, then that of the Viscountess of SEBASTIANI who became a widow and the visiting card of her stepchild, newly widowed, Baroness of SEBASTIANI.The SEBASTIANI family, of Corsican origin, began with Felice SEBASTIANI, a member of the consultancy of Pascal PAOLI from 1755-1759. His son Giacomo Maria SEBASTIANI (1752-1830), Count Sébastiani de La Porta, fled the troubles in Corsica with his wife, Maria Piétra FRANCESCHI and their 5 children (3 boys and 2 girls). The three boys will be illustrated in military careers, the eldest Horace SEBASTIANI (1772-1851), Count Sébastiani, will be the most famous, his youngest
Angel SEBASTIANI (1774-1853) and the youngest Tiburce SEBASTIANI (1786-1871), Viscount Sébastiani de La Porta. Tiburce will also be illustrated in the history of France and in particular in 1812 when he participated in the Grande Armée through the Russian campaign as squadron leader of the 11th regiment of hunters on horseback and showed bravery to the Battle of Moskowa and is also part of the avant-garde which enters Moscow in September 1812.
Their descendants bring us to the owners of these visiting cards Tiburce Eugène SEBASTIANI (1833-1895) Prefect and Viscount by decree on October 30, 1872. He married March 20, 1860 in Beauvais Jenny Marie DESJARDINS (1840-1909), Viscountess SEBASTIANI. Their son Horace Arthur Joseph SEBASTIANI (1869-1921), Baron SEBASTIANI, will be Lawyer and General Councilor of Oise. His wife Yvonne FRIRION is the Baroness SEBASTIANI on the last visit card.
Now that the owners of visiting cards are known, giving a datation is picking up pretty easy.
The first card dates before the death of Viscount Tiburce Eugène SEBASTIANI, i.e. before 1895.
The second card being a widow card was used by Jenny Marie DESJARDINS, Vicomtesse SEBASTIANI from 1895 to her death in 1909.
The third card having a large black frame could suggest that it is a widow's card, ie dating after 1921, yet it does not correspond to this date. The definite article "La" indicates here that it is about the personal card of the baroness. This card was used by Yvonne FRIRION, Baroness SEBASTIANI during a period of great mourning that corresponded to the death of a spouse or a parent (parents not being obliged to mourn a deceased child). Baroness SEBASTIANI therefore mourns her father Edouard-Philippe FRIRION, Baron Fririon, who died on April 6, 1889 and this for 1 year as required by the étiquette.