BY JEAN-BAPTISTE DEVOS (FL. 1720-1766), MARKED, PARIS, 1725/1726, WITH THE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF CHARLES CORDIER, LATER STRUCK WITH A DUTCH TAX MARK AND THE FRENCH RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARK FOR GOLD PARIS 1838 ONWARD, THE FLANGE ENGRAVED 'GOUERS APARIS'

Details

A VERY FINE EARLY LOUIS XV PARCEL-ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX
by Jean-Baptiste Devos (fl. 1720-1766), marked, Paris, 1725/1726, with the charge and discharge marks of Charles Cordier, later struck with a Dutch tax mark and the French restricted warranty mark for gold Paris 1838 onward, the flange engraved 'Gouers AParis'
Cartouche-shaped flattened box with wavy outlines, slightly raised lid and receding base, the cover, sides and base chased with flowers, trophies of gardening and shellwork on frosted panels, parcel-enamelled in translucent green and in opaque white, purple and blue with foliage and flowers including carnations, roses and tulips, framed by polished gold bands and reeding, the slightly raised wavy thumbpiece echoed at the front of the base by a boldly chased Rocaille shell; the inside of the lid set with a miniature under glass, finely painted on vellum with a mythological scene depicting Cupid inspiring Poetry and Music personified by two girls, in a landscape at a pond with a pair of swans in the foreground
2 5/8 in. (67 mm.) wide

Provenance

The celebrated collection of Félix Doistau (1846-1936), Paris; Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 18-19 June 1928, lot 109.
With S. Bulgari.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Further details

(SEE ILLUSTRATION OF INSIDE MINIATURE ON P. 5)

Lot Essay

Another gold snuff-box by Jean-Baptiste Devos, of 1730/31, engraved with inscription 'Gouers AParis', is illustrated in the exhibition catalogue Dozen om te niezen, Antwerp, Provinciaal Museum Sterckshof-Zilvercentrum, 1996-1997, no. 85, p. 145.
Above catalogue states: 'Daniël Govers became a master in Paris in 1717 and worked for Louis XV, his court and the French nobility. He was listed as Orfèvre ordinaire de la Reine and Marchand orfèvre joaillier de leurs Majestés. However he went bankrupt in 1736 and fled to Brussels in 1737. We know that Gérard Debèche (1705-1777) from Liège, as well as Jean-Baptiste Devos (m 1720->1766) worked for Govers. Govers' boxes are rare and very highly rated.'

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