A Fine Louis XV enamelled gold Snuff-Box

BY NOËL HARDIVILLIERS, MARKED, PARIS, 1767/1768, WITH THE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF JEAN-JACQUES PREVOST

Details

A Fine Louis XV enamelled gold Snuff-Box
by Noël Hardivilliers, marked, Paris, 1767/1768, with the charge and discharge marks of Jean-Jacques Prevost
Large oval box, the cover, sides and base enamelled in translucent violet on a horizontal wavy guilloché ground scattered with pellets, the lid centred by an oval enamel miniature depicting Alexander the Great in the studio of Apelles, within a rose-cut diamond border and translucent yellow enamelled surround, the borders of lid, sides and base decorated with trailing leaves and berries in translucent green and red enamel alternating with opalescent enamelled ovolos on a matted gold band, edged by opaque white enamel dots and bands, the four side pilasters hung with matching swags
91 mm. (3 5/8 in.) wide

Provenance

The Collection of Mr de Saint-Aubin; Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 9 and 10 December 1932, lot 229, illustrated opp. p. 38, sold 8,500 French Francs.

Further details

END OF SALE

Lot Essay

The scene painted on the enamel plaque depicts Apelles, Court Painter and his Emperor Alexander the Great. Apelles, the celebrated painter of ancient Greece, was engaged by Alexander to paint his favourite concubine, the beautiful Campaspe, but while painting Campaspe, Apelles fell in love with her. Alexander, as a mark of his appreciation of the painter's work, presented Campaspe as a gift to him.

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