A RUSSIAN TWO-COLOR GOLD AND ENAMEL CAMEO-SET SNUFF BOX

ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1820; THE CAMEO SIGNED MORELLI

Details

A RUSSIAN TWO-COLOR GOLD AND ENAMEL CAMEO-SET SNUFF BOX
ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1820; THE CAMEO SIGNED MORELLI
Rectangular, the hinged cover set with a cameo of Lucius Verus, surrounded by chased scrolling acanthus, the sides and base chased with Bacchic trophies, all panels with blue enamel fans at the corners, marked in center of base with hallmarks and on bezel with Dutch control mark
3 3/8 in. (8.5 cm.) long

Provenance

with A La Vieille Russie, New York

Lot Essay

The signature is either that of Niccolò Morelli (b. 1771) or Gioacchino Morelli (b. 1784), both cameo carvers in Rome. Niccolò Morelli specialized in copies of ancient cameos, and this one depicts Lucius Verus, who was co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius from 161-169 AD.

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