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Lot Essay
SCÈNES GALANTES
Germany developed a particularly sophisticated and distinctive taste for mother-of-pearl, especially in Berlin and the German courts. The material was especially favoured by the German courts, where its iridescent surface was combined with gold, enamel, ivory, diamonds and hardstones to create objects of exceptional richness and visual complexity.Berlin, in particular, became an important centre for such boxes in the mid-eighteenth century, with makers including Daniel Baudesson (1716 - 1785) producing highly refined examples for the court of Frederick the Great (1712 - 1786).
Surviving examples demonstrate the sophistication of the German treatment of mother-of-pearl, which could be engraved,tinted or combined with contrasting materials to exploit its natural luminosity such as on this snuff-box.
French marks were also sometimes added, as on this box, since Parisian snuff-boxes were considered the most desirable and most fashionable.
Germany developed a particularly sophisticated and distinctive taste for mother-of-pearl, especially in Berlin and the German courts. The material was especially favoured by the German courts, where its iridescent surface was combined with gold, enamel, ivory, diamonds and hardstones to create objects of exceptional richness and visual complexity.Berlin, in particular, became an important centre for such boxes in the mid-eighteenth century, with makers including Daniel Baudesson (1716 - 1785) producing highly refined examples for the court of Frederick the Great (1712 - 1786).
Surviving examples demonstrate the sophistication of the German treatment of mother-of-pearl, which could be engraved,tinted or combined with contrasting materials to exploit its natural luminosity such as on this snuff-box.
French marks were also sometimes added, as on this box, since Parisian snuff-boxes were considered the most desirable and most fashionable.