THE BOX BY CHARLES COLIN'S SONS (FL. C. 1825-1870), MARKED, HANAU, CIRCA 1840, THE MICROMOSAIC ROME, CIRCA 1800

The ruins of the circular Temple of Vesta at Tivoli sit on an acropolis of the Etruscan and Roman city of Tibur, now Tivoli, overlooking the falls of the River Aniene in a picturesque narrow gully. Of the early first century BC it is not known for whom the temple was dedicated though it has been suggested that it was to Hercules, the protecting god of Tibur, or to Tiburnus, the hero of the city, or to Vesta herself whose more familiar temple is to be found in the Roman Forum. Built by Lucius Gellius, the temple provided a model for many features in English landscape gardens, such as William Kent's at Stowe and Sir William Chambers' at Kew.
Charles Colin was described as 'médailleur; bijoutier' of Hanau, specialising in gold boxes. Upon his death in 1817 his successful business was continued by his sons, Esaie and Jacob Charles Colin, also described as 'bijoutiers'.