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Lot Essay
The enamel scene is copied after a print of circa 1786 by Michon and Lorieux after an oil painting by David II Teniers 'the Younger' (1610-1690) once in the collection of the Duke of Orleans. For two similar enamel plaques, signed with the same monogram, see lot 341 and sale Sotheby's, London, 8 May 1978, lot 73.
Johann Daniel Bernéaud was born in Hanau and worked as an enamellist there and in Geneva. At some time, he was associated with Antoine Carteret. Both are praised in Goethe's 'Tour on the Rhine, Maine, and Neckar' of 1814-1815 in his chapter on Hanau: 'Painting in enamel is executed chiefly by Carteret and Berneaud, and both may justly claim the title of artists.'
On 1 February 1804, Jean-Georges Rémond and his five new associates founded a company in Geneva for which the present maker's mark was registered. One of the partners, Jean Boëhm, was in charge of the Hanau branch of the enterprise. One day after the dissolution of their company, Rémond founded a new company with the same associates except Boëhm who was replaced by Pierre Mercier. By 1819, Rémond himself had moved to Hanau (P. Poniz, 'Jean Georges Rémond, Horological Goldsmith', Vox, Summer 2004, no pagination).
The fact that the present box is not struck with the French departmental marks as most boxes manufactured in Geneva under the French occupation, would suggest that it was made at the Hanau branch of Rémond's firm. With Bernéaud working both in Geneva and Hanau, the present box is a witness of the european dimension of Rémond's business.
Johann Daniel Bernéaud was born in Hanau and worked as an enamellist there and in Geneva. At some time, he was associated with Antoine Carteret. Both are praised in Goethe's 'Tour on the Rhine, Maine, and Neckar' of 1814-1815 in his chapter on Hanau: 'Painting in enamel is executed chiefly by Carteret and Berneaud, and both may justly claim the title of artists.'
On 1 February 1804, Jean-Georges Rémond and his five new associates founded a company in Geneva for which the present maker's mark was registered. One of the partners, Jean Boëhm, was in charge of the Hanau branch of the enterprise. One day after the dissolution of their company, Rémond founded a new company with the same associates except Boëhm who was replaced by Pierre Mercier. By 1819, Rémond himself had moved to Hanau (P. Poniz, 'Jean Georges Rémond, Horological Goldsmith', Vox, Summer 2004, no pagination).
The fact that the present box is not struck with the French departmental marks as most boxes manufactured in Geneva under the French occupation, would suggest that it was made at the Hanau branch of Rémond's firm. With Bernéaud working both in Geneva and Hanau, the present box is a witness of the european dimension of Rémond's business.