GENEVA, CIRCA 1780; MAKER'S MARK B. G., STRUCK WITH MARKS RESEMBLING THE CHARGE MARK OF JULIEN ALATERRE AND THE DECHARGE MARK OF JEAN-BAPTISTE FOUACHE, PARIS 1768-1774, AND CROWNED LETTER K FOR 1773

Details

A SWISS ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX
GENEVA, CIRCA 1780; MAKER'S MARK B. G., STRUCK WITH MARKS RESEMBLING THE CHARGE MARK OF JULIEN ALATERRE AND THE DECHARGE MARK OF JEAN-BAPTISTE FOUACHE, PARIS 1768-1774, AND CROWNED LETTER K FOR 1773
Oval box, the cover, sides and base enamelled in translucent steel-blue on an engine-turned reeded ground scattered with pellets, within chased and enamelled borders of slightly raised intertwined foliage, berries and pearl garlands, the sides panels interspaced with sablé pilasters of stylised enamelled foliage, the cover set with an enamel plaque depicting Alexander the Great and his physician Philip
3 1⁄8 in. (78 mm.) wide

Provenance

Christopher Henry Thomas Hawkins of Trewithen, Cornwall and 10 Portland Place, London, landowner and prodigious collector.
C.H.T. Hawkins, deceased, of 10 Portland Place; Christie's, London, 17 May 1904, lot 1182 (250 gns. to Duveen).
Joseph Duveen (1869-1939), later knighted, created a baronet and made Lord Duveen of Millbank, art dealer and benefactor, director of Duveen Brothers.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 28 November 1984, lot 229.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 21 June 1999, lot 176.
French & English Furniture from a Distinguished Private Collection; Christie's, New York, 24 October 2017, lot 6.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Isabelle Cartier-Stone Specialist

icartier-stone@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2898

Lot Essay

The scene on the cover could depict Philip of Acarnania, a friend and physician of Alexander, removing an arrow from Alexander's shoulder following the siege of Gaza in 332 BC. Alexander's life had previously been saved by Philip when he had been seized with a severe attack of fever. Parmenion had sent a letter to warn Alexander that Philip had been bribed by Darius III to poison him; however Alexander refused to doubt the honesty of his physician and drank the draught that Philip had prepared for him. The king's speedy recovery fully justified his confidence in the skill and honesty of his physician.

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