Gold Boxes, Fabergé and Objects of Vertu
Gold Boxes, Fabergé and Objects of Vertu
Property from an important European private collection
A gold and hardstone portrait snuff box, English, circa 1760
Auction Closed
May 25, 03:15 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from an important European private collection
A gold and hardstone portrait snuff box, English, circa 1760
of upright cartouche form, the lid inset with a panel of banded creamy grey agate within pierced and chased rocaille decorations, reeded gold rims and bow-shaped thumbpiece, the shaped sides also chased with rocaille ornament and flowers, the interior of the lid set with an enamel miniature of Mrs Vandewall, by Gervase Spencer, signed and dated: G. S 1757, wearing an ermine-trimmed blue dress, lace collar and baroque pearl earrings, in rose gold frame and plaited light brown hair border, the interior of the base later inscribed: Martha / Vandewall / Apl 1798, unmarked
5.7cm., 2¼in. high,
Martha, daughter of Jonathan and Martha Barrow, was born in 1711 into a Quaker family. She first married Harris Neate, a West Indies merchant, in 1733. Following his death, she married another wealthy merchant and prominent Quaker, Samuel Vandewall, in 1744. He owned much property including a valuable copperas (product used in dyes and printing ink) works in Greenwich and was painted by Thomas Hudson. He died in 1762. His widow survived him and their remains were reunited in the churchyard of Jordans, Buckinghamshire, burial place of William Penn.
For a portrait minaiture also painted in enamel by Gervase Spencer of the same date, representing Samuel Vandewall, see Haydn Williams, Enamels of the World 1700-2000, The Khalili Collection, London, 2009, cat. no. 194.