GENEVA, CIRCA 1790/1800, MAKER'S MARK PG A CROWN ABOVE, MARKED WITH TWO LOZENGES CONTAINING FLEURS-DE-LYS

Details

A RARE SWISS TWO-COLOUR GOLD WORLD TIME BONBONNIÈRE
Geneva, circa 1790/1800, maker's mark PG a crown above, marked with two lozenges containing fleurs-de-lys
Circular box, the independent lid with central movement under domed hinged glass cover, the dial engraved with MATIN, MIDI, SOIR and MINUIT on polished gold cartouches on a matted gold roundel, surrounded by a polished gold band indicating the hours twice from 1 to 12, jewelled single hand in the shape of a fleur-de-lys, within a broad polished gold band engraved with 53 French names of places around the world from Lisbon via Bagdad and Philadelphia to Greenland, the borders with fluted bands and stylized acanthus on matted gold bands, the sides and base engine-turned with trelliswork enclosing vertical ovolos, the base centred by a stylized rosette on a matted ground surrounded by a laurel border, the convex inside of the lid with keyhole and keyhole-cache in the shape of an arrow
2 11/16 in. (68 mm.) diam.

Provenance

Marquis d'Estampes; Sotheby's, Geneva, 16 November 1989, lot 75 (to Dreesmann).
Dr Anton C. R. Dreesmann (inventory no. F-185).

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

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,

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