PROBABLY BERLIN, CIRCA 1750/1760

Details

A GERMAN GOLD AND STEEL SNUFF-BOX
PROBABLY BERLIN, CIRCA 1750/1760
rectangular gold-lined box, the cover, sides and base set with sablé gold panels overlaid with pierced and chased steel openwork, depicting a courting couple celebrating the harvest amidst agricultural trophies and scrolling vines, on the base a dog and a bird with a plough above, within wavy reeded gold borders, the interior set with a miniature of Duke Adolphus Frederick IV of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1738-1794), wearing the red sash and breast-star of the Russian Order of Saint Alexander Nevski, holding a gun and with his dog beside him, German School, circa 1760
3 1/8 in. (80 mm.) wide

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

David McLachlan

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Lot Essay

A very similar German gold snuff-box with cut-steel overlaying panels of sablé gold and dated to 1750 was sold Christie's, London, 25 November 1975, lot 173.

Adolphus Frederick IV, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the eldest brother of Queen Charlotte (1744-1818), the wife of George III, with whom she corresponded regularly until the Duke's death in 1794. Adolphus succeeded his father as Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1752. Dr Nugent, who visited his court in 1766, described him as a paragon of virtue: 'His chief diversion is doing good, in extending himself in acts of benevolence towards his subjects whose happiness seems to constitute the sole object of his ambition'.

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