BY ADRIEN-JEAN-MAXIMILIEN VACHETTE (FL. 1753-1839), MARKED, PARIS, 1784, WITH SECOND CHARGE AND DECHARGE MARKS OF HENRI CLAVEL 1782-1789, THE GOLD PLAQUES ATTRIBUTED TO GÉRARD DEBÈCHE FILS (1705-1777)

Details

A LOUIS XVI VARI-COLOUR GOLD AND HARDSTONE SNUFF-BOX
BY ADRIEN-JEAN-MAXIMILIEN VACHETTE (FL. 1753-1839), MARKED, PARIS, 1784, WITH SECOND CHARGE AND DECHARGE MARKS OF HENRI CLAVEL 1782-1789, THE GOLD PLAQUES ATTRIBUTED TO GÉRARD DEBÈCHE FILS (1705-1777)
rectangular box with canted corners, the cover, sides and base set with panels of lapis lazuli and each centred with an oval gold plaque chased in relief with playful putti, within chased entrelac vari-colour gold borders
3½ in. (90 mm.) wide

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Lot Essay

Vachette was one of the best-known of the Parisian gold box makers at the turn of the 18th to the 19th Century. He registered his mark in 1779 and later worked together with Nitot, one of the court jewellers of Emperor Napoleon I. Henry Nocq (Le poinçon de Paris, Paris, 1968, [reprint], p. 76), praises Vachette: 'Avant et aprés la Révolution les plus belles tabatières d'or sont marquées du poinçon de Vachette.' For another box by this goldsmith see lots 24,34,39,64 and 70. For another box with chased plaques by Debèche see lot 32.
For a discussion of the work of Gérard Debèche fils see Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, Los Angeles, 1991, pp. 94-96.

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