A BERLIN SILVER AND ENAMEL SNUFF BOX

CIRCA 1740, POSSIBLY FROM THE FROMERY WORKSHOP

Details

A BERLIN SILVER AND ENAMEL SNUFF BOX
Circa 1740, possibly from the Fromery workshop
Of cartouche form, the lid with raised gilding and green, blue and brown enamels depicting Orpheus seated on a tree stump in a landscape vignette playing a guitar surrounded by birds and animals, the border with gilt shells and animals, the interior base gilt and the lid with a later hairwork bouquet under glass, 2¾in. (7cm.) wide; together with a Staffordshire enamel scent bottle, 19th century, modelled as a bottle in a pale yellow with circular reserves of flowers and insects, gilt-metal stopper, 3in. (7.6cm.) high; and a metal-mounted scallop-shaped French faience snuff box painted in colours, the cover with a lady holding a basket in a landscape, the sides with two views of ships at sea, 3¼in. (8.3cm.) wide (3)

Provenance

Anon. sale; Sotheby's, London, 11 April 1978, lot 282 (the Berlin snuff box)

Lot Essay

Alex Fromery was active as an enameller at Berlin in the early 18th century. His work is best known for his unusual use of raised gilding and translucent enamels of figures and reliefs. He also worked with C.F. Herold from approximately 1740-1750. For an example of his work, see W. Holzhausen's article in Der Kunstwanderer (1930-1931), pp. 4 and 78.

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