Lot Essay
Cf. A gold snuff-box with identical hardstone sides by the same and signed Fossin & Fils, Joailliers du Roi à Paris sold, Sotheby's Geneva, November 17, 1994, lot 80.
For details of the firm of Fossin see Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, 1991, p. 148, cat. no. 48. The firm of Fossin was one of the leading Parisian jewelers of its day. Jean-Baptiste Fossin worked for Etienne Nitot and his son François-Regnault were goldsmiths to Napoleon I. Fossin aquired the firm in Rue de Richelieu on the restoration of the monarchy in 1815. After his son Jules joined the firm of Fossin in 1830 they were appointed joailliers du Roi by Louis Philippe. As well as jewelry they seem to have supplied important gold boxes for special commissions, such as the box made for Anatole Demidoff, Prince of San Donato now in the collection of Arthur Gilbert, Los Angeles (see Charles Truman, op cit, cat no. 52). This box is known to actually have been made by Alexandre Leferre under the direction of Fossin who acted as retailer.
For details of the firm of Fossin see Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, 1991, p. 148, cat. no. 48. The firm of Fossin was one of the leading Parisian jewelers of its day. Jean-Baptiste Fossin worked for Etienne Nitot and his son François-Regnault were goldsmiths to Napoleon I. Fossin aquired the firm in Rue de Richelieu on the restoration of the monarchy in 1815. After his son Jules joined the firm of Fossin in 1830 they were appointed joailliers du Roi by Louis Philippe. As well as jewelry they seem to have supplied important gold boxes for special commissions, such as the box made for Anatole Demidoff, Prince of San Donato now in the collection of Arthur Gilbert, Los Angeles (see Charles Truman, op cit, cat no. 52). This box is known to actually have been made by Alexandre Leferre under the direction of Fossin who acted as retailer.