AN ITALIAN GOLD-LINED MICRO-MOSAIC BOX SET WITH A PORTRAIT-MINIATURE
Details
AN ITALIAN GOLD-LINED MICRO-MOSAIC BOX SET WITH A PORTRAIT-MINIATURE circa 1810, the miniature attributed to Adèle Chavassieu d'Audebert
Circular bonbonnière, the cover centered by an oval enamel miniature after Raphael's self-portrait, within a silver-gilt mount engraved with a Greek key pattern, on a blue micro-mosaic ground embellished with grisaille masks and foliage, the sides of the cover decorated with husks in the same micro-mosaic technique, the sides of the base with twisted ribbons and laurel branches, the base with a very fine micro-mosaic of a laurel wreath surrounding a classical tripod with a floral festoon containing trophies of Painting, Architecture, Sculpture and Geometry; with engraved gold borders -- 80 mm diam..
Lot Essay
Raphael's self-portrait of circa 1512/1515, formerly in the possession of King Lewis I of Bavaria, is nowadays in the National Gallery of Art, Washington.