Lot 666
666
A RARE 17TH. CENTURY FRENCH SILVER BOX OF OCTAGONAL FORM
A RARE 17TH. CENTURY FRENCH SILVER BOX OF OCTAGONAL FORM

MAKER'S MARK ONLY TO BASE AND INSIDE COVER, INDISTINCT, A CROWNED FLEUR-DE-LYS AND PELLETS WITH DEVICE AND INITIALS BELOW, ? Q, PROBABLY FOR A MEMBER OF THE PARISIAN QUIN FAMILY, INSCRIBED WITH DATE 1671, ALSO A LATER CONTROL MARK TO COVER

Details
A RARE 17TH. CENTURY FRENCH SILVER BOX OF OCTAGONAL FORM
MAKER'S MARK ONLY TO BASE AND INSIDE COVER, INDISTINCT, A CROWNED FLEUR-DE-LYS AND PELLETS WITH DEVICE AND INITIALS BELOW, ? Q, PROBABLY FOR A MEMBER OF THE PARISIAN QUIN FAMILY, INSCRIBED WITH DATE 1671, ALSO A LATER CONTROL MARK TO COVER
Hinged cover etched and engraved with the Judgement of Paris, depicting the reclining figure of Paris holding the golden apple with Hermes on his left and Eros on his right accompanying Aphrodite with Athena and Hera beside, a town in background, sides similarly decorated with panels depicting two mounted huntsmen, one with horn, accompanied by hounds who pursue and savage a stag and a rabbit amidst dense foliage, one panel depicting a seated Eros (Cupid)holding a vase of flowers, inside of cover engraved with a coat of arms beside a reversed and interlaced monogram with circlet of flowers and ribbons above, all within a wreath, the date 1671 engraved below, narrow wrigglework border
1 ¾ in. long (4.5 cm.)
1.5 oz. (approx. 46 gm.)

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Lot Essay

Unfortunately the first initial of the maker's mark cannot be seen nor is the central device clear but assuming it's a Paris maker, there are only four likely makers working at this period whose surname begins with a "Q". These are Matthieu Quin, Jean Quin and Charles Quévannes. The only other, Pierre Quin, is probably too late as he was a Maître from 1676.
The arms are quartered for Caulaincourt of Picardy and Bettendorf of Alsace, the latter bearing insignia for barons of the Holy Roman Empire and the garland indicating a marriage.

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