Lot Essay
For a Berlin box with similar gold and mother-of-pearl decoration, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see Clare Le Corbeiller, European and American Snuff Boxes 1730-1830, London, 1966, nr 247.
Details
A FINE AND IMPORTANT GERMAN JEWELLED GOLD AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL SNUFF-BOX
Berlin, circa 1750
Cartouche-shaped gold box, the cover, base and sides applied with mother-of-pearl panels, the lid encrusted with a scene in chased and pierced gold depicting Mars and Venus surrounded by foliage, scrolls and rocaille embellished by silver-mounted diamonds, red precious stones and a baroque pearl, the sides similarly adorned with chased and pierced rocaille ornaments, playful putti and scrolls, the wavy thumbpiece also applied with a diamond and red stones -- 68 mm wide.
Berlin, circa 1750
Cartouche-shaped gold box, the cover, base and sides applied with mother-of-pearl panels, the lid encrusted with a scene in chased and pierced gold depicting Mars and Venus surrounded by foliage, scrolls and rocaille embellished by silver-mounted diamonds, red precious stones and a baroque pearl, the sides similarly adorned with chased and pierced rocaille ornaments, playful putti and scrolls, the wavy thumbpiece also applied with a diamond and red stones -- 68 mm wide.