Prospective purchasers are advised that several co… Read more

A FRENCH ENAMELLED GOLD-MOUNTED TORTOISESHELL SNUFF-BOX SET WITH GRISAILLE MINIATURES

BY ADRIEN-JEAN-MAXIMILIEN VACHETTE (FL. 1779-1839), MARKED, PARIS, CIRCA 1800, THE FLANGE ENGRAVED 'VACHETTE A PARIS', STRUCK WITH THE POST-REVOLUTIONARY UNOFFICIAL STANDARD MARK FOR 18 CARAT GOLD, THE MINIATURES ATTRIBUTED TO JACQUES-JOSEPH DE GAULT (1738-1817)

Details

A FRENCH ENAMELLED GOLD-MOUNTED TORTOISESHELL SNUFF-BOX SET WITH GRISAILLE MINIATURES
BY ADRIEN-JEAN-MAXIMILIEN VACHETTE (FL. 1779-1839), MARKED, PARIS, CIRCA 1800, THE FLANGE ENGRAVED 'VACHETTE A PARIS', STRUCK WITH THE POST-REVOLUTIONARY UNOFFICIAL STANDARD MARK FOR 18 CARAT GOLD, THE MINIATURES ATTRIBUTED TO JACQUES-JOSEPH DE GAULT (1738-1817)
circular gold-lined dark tortoiseshell box with waisted sides, the cover inset with a chased sablé gold plaque set with six oval glazed miniatures on ivory, finely painted en grisaille on a slate-coloured ground with scenes from classical mythology and playful putti, within a black enamel taille d’épargne outer border

3¾ in. (95 mm.) diam.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Further details

For another box by this goldsmith see lot 113.

Brought to you by

Dido Penny

dpenny@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2794

Lot Essay

Jacques-Joseph de Gault specialised in painting scenes which emulated the Neoclassical fashion for hardstone cameos. De Gault's style developed through his work as a porcelain painter at the Sèvres factory from 1758 to 1760, and by 1777 he was exhibiting paintings imitating cameos at the Académie de Saint-Luc. Miniatures signed by and attributed to De Gault feature on other boxes made by such notable Parisian goldsmiths as Jean Ducrollay (fl. 1734-1761), Charles Ouizille (fl. 1771-1830) and Adrien-Jean-Maximilien Vachette (fl. 1779-1839). The artist's most impressive commission was perhaps that of the jewel cabinet at Versailles for Queen Marie-Antoinette, partly illustrated in C. Jeannerat, 'De Gault et Gault de Saint-Germain', Bulletin de la Société de l'histoire de l'art français, 1835, opp. p. 224.

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