A RARE SWISS JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED FOUR-COLOUR GOLD SNUFF-BOX WITH WATCHES AND CALENDAR

GENEVA, CIRCA 1780/1800, MAKER'S MARK PG A CROWN ABOVE FLANKED BY TWO LOZENGES CONTAINING FLEURS-DE-LYS, THE FLANGE STRUCK WITH INVENTORY NO. 21, LATER STRUCK WITH THREE PARISIAN POST-1838 RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARKS FOR GOLD

Details

A RARE SWISS JEWELLED AND ENAMELLED FOUR-COLOUR GOLD SNUFF-BOX WITH WATCHES AND CALENDAR
Geneva, circa 1780/1800, maker's mark PG a crown above flanked by two lozenges containing fleurs-de-lys, the flange struck with inventory no. 21, later struck with three Parisian post-1838 restricted warranty marks for gold
Oval box, the panels on cover, sides and base enamelled in translucent gun-metal grey on a ground of wavy scalloped reeded engine-turning creating a moiré aspect and framed by rose-cut diamond borders, the lid set with a central white enamel chapter disc with Roman chapters and rose-cut diamond set hands, flanked by enamel dials for seconds and calendar numbered from 1 to 30, the sides engraved and chased in four-colour gold with cherubim on clouds, floral swags, drapery with birds and side pilasters with goat heads, on a matted ground, the borders cast with bands of leaves and stylized acanthus on a sablé ground, a push-piece at the front side of the box releasing a mechanism to open the double-lid revealing the movement with skeletonized and foliage engraved plates, foliate pierced and engraved spring barrel cover and later cylinder escapement, with gold-handled key
3 in. (76 mm.) wide

Lot Essay

Other gold snuff-boxes by the same goldsmith with watches were sold Christie's, Geneva, 15 May 1990, lot 81; Christie's, Geneva, 14 May 1991, lot 1; Sotheby's, Geneva, 15 May 1996, lot 243ab, and Sotheby's, Geneva, 16 November 1999, lot 66. A world time bonbonnière by him was in the Dreesmann Collection, sold Christie's, London, 11 April 2002, lot 794.

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