The Collection of a Connoisseur 掌上的百年風華: 鐘錶及裝飾藝術收藏

A JEWELLED AND GOLD-MOUNTED HARDSTONE APPLIQUÉ PORTRAIT SNUFF BOX, PROBABLY BERLIN, CIRCA 1770

Restricted Species

Auction Closed

July 14, 12:35 PM GMT

Estimate

15,000 - 20,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

A JEWELLED AND GOLD-MOUNTED HARDSTONE APPLIQUÉ PORTRAIT SNUFF BOX, PROBABLY BERLIN, CIRCA 1770

circular, the porphyry ground applied on the lid with an oval painted ivory miniature of a gentleman with powdered hair en queue, wearing a military grey coat with red collar and gold lace facings and epaulettes, rose diamond frame, the ground and sides further applied in different bright hardstones and gemstones with a plethora of flowers, bows, insects and amorous trophies, unmarked

6.5cm., 2½in. diam

This lot contains ivory. Due to recent changes in the laws of many countries (e.g. US, France) Sotheby's recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. Please note that Sotheby's will not assist buyers with CITES licence applications where a buyer elects to either collect or arrange their own shipping, nor will Sotheby's assist with the international movement of ivory by air, either as freight or through hand carry. Sotheby's shipping will only assist in shipping the lot to either domestic UK or EU destinations, where delivery is made by road transport. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.

This unusual and lively technique of applying hardstone boxes with insects, flowers and other ornament is associated with two boxes, signed respectively: F.L. Hoffmann F. and Hoffmann F., illustrated by A. Kenneth Snowman, Gold Boxes of Europe, Woodbridge, 1990, pls. 615/6, 618/a. Snowman believed these boxes to be of Dresden manufacture but in a discussion of the former box, now in the Gilbert Collection, Charles Truman laid out the few known facts and argued the case for a Berlin origin for the Hoffmanns’ workshop. He makes the point that “the technique of raised stonework is more frequently associated with the court of Frederick the Great in Berlin than with the rival Saxon court”.