A rare gold and amethystine quartz snuff box, Otto Christian Sahler, Berlin or Dresden, circa 1765

rectangular, the lid overlaid with an openwork panel finely chased in high relief with a huntsman seated between his hounds, within volutes, the gold mounts chased with reeded scrolls, signed 'Sahler', later 19th century French and Dutch control marks

Probably acquired by Simon, 1st Earl Harcourt (1714-1777), British Ambassador to Paris 1768-1772, at Nuneham Courtney, Oxfordshire;
thence by descent.

As a result of a knock which caused the cracks in the lid, a small portion (2mm) of gold mount is missing and this has caused the mount to lift slightly. Superbly chased. Later 19th century French (eagle's head) and Dutch (Board's head, 1831-1893) control marks.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Simon, 1st Earl Harcourt (1714-1777), from the eminent Harcourt family whose history traces back to a thousand years in Normandy, was a British diplomat and general. After returning to England after a Grand Tour of Germany, Italy and Switzerland, Simon was appointed governor to the Prince of Wales, future King George III, and his relationship with the royal family developed into a close friendship. In 1761, he was appointed as special ambassador to Mecklenburg-Strelitz, to escort Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to England for their marriage. He was then appointed British ambassador to Paris from 1768 to 1772, for which he was supplied with one of the most celebrated ambassadorial silver services provided by Royal goldsmiths Parker & Wakelin, see Sotheby's London, The Harcourt Collection, 10 June 1993. Simon acquired exquisite works of art in Paris, such as silver by the French Royal goldsmith Robert-Joseph Auguste, or fashionable pot pourris, see lot 22 in this sale.

The versatile Otto Christian Sahler (died Berlin, aged 77 in 1810), from a well-known family of Augsburg goldsmiths, worked as a chaser, engraver, wax modeller and hardstone carver. He had trained as a goldsmith in Augsburg before moving to Dresden where he worked from 1752 as a modeller. Before 1770 he is known to have moved to Berlin where he worked on portrait waxes of the Prussian Royal and Russian Imperial families. A large oval varicoloured gold box, formerly belonging to Prince Narishkine, chased with episodes from the Seven Years' War, after Sahler's colleague Daniel Chodowiecki, is similarly signed by Sahler under the diamond-encrusted thumbpiece (A. Kenneth Snowman, Gold Boxes of Europe, Woodbridge, 1990, pl. 717). A diamond-set chased two-colour gold and lapis lazuli snuff box from the Prince Demidoff collection, also signed by Sahler, and with similar delicate chased figures on the lid, was sold Sotheby's London, 29 November 2005, lot 45.