Lot Essay
The enamelled scene on the cover of the present snuff-box was inspired by Pierre François Tardieu's engraving Colère d'Achille, taken after Charles-Charles-Antoine Coypel's painting of 1737.
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GENEVA, CIRCA 1770/1780, MARKED WITH PRESTIGE MARKS INCLUDING A PARTIALLY RUBBED MAKER'S MARK ENDING IN 'P', WITH THE RÉCENSE FROM THE SOUTH DIVISION (MONTPELLIER) FOR 1780-1784, LATER STRUCK WITH A PARISIAN POST-1838 RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARK FOR GOLD, ENGRAVED WITH INVENTORY NO. 2
Details
A FINE SWISS FOUR-COLOUR GOLD AND ENAMEL SNUFF-BOX
GENEVA, CIRCA 1770/1780, MARKED WITH PRESTIGE MARKS INCLUDING A PARTIALLY RUBBED MAKER'S MARK ENDING IN 'P', WITH THE RÉCENSE FROM THE SOUTH DIVISION (MONTPELLIER) FOR 1780-1784, LATER STRUCK WITH A PARISIAN POST-1838 RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARK FOR GOLD, ENGRAVED WITH INVENTORY NO. 2
Oval box, the cover, sides and base engine-turned with horizontal reeding, the lid centred by an oval medallion enamelled en plein and depicting Achilles' quarrel with Agamemnon, within a fluted border with ribbon-tie above and green gold laurels below, the sides flanked with vari-colour gold flower swags, the base similarly chased and enamelled with a scene of Ajax and Odysseus fighting over the arms of Achilles, the sides of the base with four medallions enamelled en plein depicting scenes of the birth and death of Achilles, Thetis dipping Achilles in the Styx, and Achilles and the daughters of Lycomedes, all connected with vari-coloured gold laurel swags secured with bows suspending bouquets, the borders decorated with polished gold water-bead chains entwining floral garlands in vari-colour gold
3¼ in. (83 mm.) wide
GENEVA, CIRCA 1770/1780, MARKED WITH PRESTIGE MARKS INCLUDING A PARTIALLY RUBBED MAKER'S MARK ENDING IN 'P', WITH THE RÉCENSE FROM THE SOUTH DIVISION (MONTPELLIER) FOR 1780-1784, LATER STRUCK WITH A PARISIAN POST-1838 RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARK FOR GOLD, ENGRAVED WITH INVENTORY NO. 2
Oval box, the cover, sides and base engine-turned with horizontal reeding, the lid centred by an oval medallion enamelled en plein and depicting Achilles' quarrel with Agamemnon, within a fluted border with ribbon-tie above and green gold laurels below, the sides flanked with vari-colour gold flower swags, the base similarly chased and enamelled with a scene of Ajax and Odysseus fighting over the arms of Achilles, the sides of the base with four medallions enamelled en plein depicting scenes of the birth and death of Achilles, Thetis dipping Achilles in the Styx, and Achilles and the daughters of Lycomedes, all connected with vari-coloured gold laurel swags secured with bows suspending bouquets, the borders decorated with polished gold water-bead chains entwining floral garlands in vari-colour gold
3¼ in. (83 mm.) wide
Provenance
John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) Collection, New York.
with Rosenberg & Stiebel, New York.
Henry Ford II (1917-1987) Collection; Sotheby, Parke, Bernet, New York, 25 February 1978, lot 31.
Sotheby's, New York, 21 June 1994, lot 118.
with Rosenberg & Stiebel, New York.
Henry Ford II (1917-1987) Collection; Sotheby, Parke, Bernet, New York, 25 February 1978, lot 31.
Sotheby's, New York, 21 June 1994, lot 118.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Brought to you by
Rodney Woolley
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