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Lot Essay
As Boardman informs (“The Recording and Sales of the Marlborough Collection,” in Boardman, et al., op. cit., p. 15 and ns. 67 and 68), George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (1739-1817), commissioned ten Moroccan red leather boxes for his gem collection from Christopher Pinchbeck, who submitted a bill on 8 June 1771. One of these boxes, identical in form to the example presented here, is shown held by the Duke’s son, the Marquess of Blandford, in Sir Joshua Reynolds’ 1778 portrait of the ducal family, which still at Blenheim Palace. The lid of the box presented here is embossed with the letters A I, presumably for Arundel Intaglios. The collection of Thomas Howard, the 2nd Earl of Arundel (1586-1646) remained largely intact until it was gifted to the Duke circa 1765. The Arundel Collection, combined with the Duke’s other acquisitions, is considered the finest private collection of ancient gems ever assembled.
In the 1899 sale of the Marlborough Gems at Christie’s, the auctioneer’s book shows that an additional four lots were added at the end of the auction, their descriptions hand-written, including lots 740, an iron safe; 741, four red leather cases; 742, four ditto; and 743, books on the Marlborough gems. Both 741 and 742 were bought by Francis E. Whelan (1848-1907), who acquired many lots in the sale, either on commission or for stock. He then sold the case presented here to M.H. Nevil Story-Maskelyne, author of the 1870 catalog of the Marlborough Collection. It was sold again in his sale at Sotheby’s in 1921, lot 334 (confirmed by a label affixed to the lid), which was acquired by Landsberg.
In the 1899 sale of the Marlborough Gems at Christie’s, the auctioneer’s book shows that an additional four lots were added at the end of the auction, their descriptions hand-written, including lots 740, an iron safe; 741, four red leather cases; 742, four ditto; and 743, books on the Marlborough gems. Both 741 and 742 were bought by Francis E. Whelan (1848-1907), who acquired many lots in the sale, either on commission or for stock. He then sold the case presented here to M.H. Nevil Story-Maskelyne, author of the 1870 catalog of the Marlborough Collection. It was sold again in his sale at Sotheby’s in 1921, lot 334 (confirmed by a label affixed to the lid), which was acquired by Landsberg.