BY JOHANN CHRISTIAN NEUBER (1736-1808), DRESDEN, CIRCA 1780

Details

A VERY FINE SAXON HARDSTONE AND GOLD SNUFF-BOX
by Johann Christian Neuber (1736-1808), Dresden, circa 1780
Octagonal box, the lid centred with an oval mocha-coloured hardstone panel applied with a flower composition sculpted and carved in vari-colour hardstones, within a bright-cut gold mount, the cover and base panels inlaid with a Zellenmosaik of ox-blood and beige agate plaques alternating with green chrysoprase plaques shaped as petals, concentrically radiating and swirling on a semi-translucent green chrysoprase ground, within borders of white agate sticks, the four long sides and base centred by oval rosettes inlaid with stylised green chrysoprase flowerheads, all six sides inlaid with wavy diagonally cut ox-blood and beige agate plaques and edged with an engraved ribbon-twist gold band, the polished gold borders of lid, sides and base inlaid with a ribbon-twist band of semi-translucent yellow agate centred by sky-blue and yellow glass flowerheads
3¼ in. (82 mm.) wide

Provenance

With S. Bulgari.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

Another octagonal box by Neuber with similar design was sold in these rooms, 21 June 1999, lot 77. Two other boxes by Neuber centred with flowersprays in carved hardstones are illustrated in A. K. Snowman, Eighteenth Century Gold Boxes of Europe, London, 1966, nos. 589 and 595.

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