Gold Boxes and Objects of Vertu

Christie’s has sold some of the most important gold boxes and objects of vertu made by renowned goldsmiths including Johann Christian Neuber, Noël Hardivillers, Jean Fremin, Jean George, Jean Ducrollay, Joseph-Étienne Blerzy, Adrien-Jean-Maximilien Vachette and Gabriel-Raoul Morel.

We offer gold boxes and objects of vertu through one-off private collection sales such as the Bayreuth auction, as well as featuring them in regular auctions such as The Exceptional Sale and The Collector in London, New York and Paris.

The category encompasses a wide variety of items such as snuffboxes, bonbonnières, patch boxes, presentation boxes, boîtes-à-portrait, boîtes à miniatures, pomanders, necessaires and spyglasses. Mostly made in gold and sometimes incorporating hardstones, enamel, precious stones, micro-mosaics, porcelain or miniatures, these precious decorative arts pieces represent masterpieces of invention and technical skill. Often used as currency due to their monetary value, they combined practical purpose with the social and diplomatic function of conferring status to their owner.

The renewed international interest in these objects confirms their enduring quality as luxury accessories. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a free and confidential valuation, or to discuss the market.

An ornate wooden box with intricate patterns and a central decorative clasp.

Upcoming auctions

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30 Jun
Live
The Exceptional Sale: Masterworks Across Cultures
London

The Exceptional Sale: Masterwo auction at Christies

30 Jun

Live

The Exceptional Sale: Masterworks Across Cultures

London

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Contact us

From free valuations to market advice, our specialists are here to answer your questions.

Isabelle Cartier-Stone
Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7389 2898
icartier-stone@christies.com
London, Paris
Isabelle Cartier-Stone first joined Christie’s in 1997 working in Geneva and Monaco before opening the first silver auctions in Paris in 2001 with the Karl Lagerfeld collection. In 2006, she became a consultant working on important sales such the Yves-Saint-Laurent collection in 2009 or the Pinto collection in 2017. During that period, she also wrote and contributed to several publications on French, Belgian and German silver. In 2018, she returned to Christie’s London working for the silver and the gold boxes departments. A specialist in continental silver, Isabelle has a strong interest in researching provenance and history of objects with a view to reaching a new audience of collectors.
Eleonora Pontiggia
Sales Coordinator, Classic Art Group
+44 (20) 73892049
epontiggia@christies.com
London
Eleonora Pontiggia is a Sales Coordinator for the Classic Art Group, based in London. Eleonora joined Christie’s in 2020 in the Old Master Paintings department before moving on to work with the Estates, Appraisal & Valuations team as a Valuation Coordinator. In 2024 she joined the Classic Art Group as Sales Coordinator working primarily with the Antiquities and Ceramics departments. Eleonora holds a Master Degree in Art History and Art World Practice from Christie’s Education with a particular focus on English and European Decorative Arts.