Lot Essay
The scene is possibly depicting Catharine the Great at his memorial on the 10th anniversary of Orlov's death in 1793
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STRUCK WITH FRENCH PRESTIGE MARKS, GENEVA, CIRCA 1820
Details
A Swiss gold and enamel snuff-box
Struck with French prestige marks, Geneva, circa 1820
Rectangular with cut corners, the reverse with classical ruins and trees in gold on blue ground, within gold, light blue and lapis blue foliate bands, the sides with similarly decorated bands, the cover painted with a crowned lady, possibly depicting Catharine the Great, holding a chalice and shield with the arms of the town Tver, near an altar and obelisk with a Russian inscription which reads in translation 'Sincere Gratitude 1793 Ap[ril] 21' and a cypher of Grigorii Orlov in a laurel wreath held by a cupid, in the foreground a feathered helmet and shield on a package, the background with a sailing boat, a lake, a town and mountains, the rim with twelve various coat-of-arms
9.3 cm.
198 gr.
Struck with French prestige marks, Geneva, circa 1820
Rectangular with cut corners, the reverse with classical ruins and trees in gold on blue ground, within gold, light blue and lapis blue foliate bands, the sides with similarly decorated bands, the cover painted with a crowned lady, possibly depicting Catharine the Great, holding a chalice and shield with the arms of the town Tver, near an altar and obelisk with a Russian inscription which reads in translation 'Sincere Gratitude 1793 Ap[ril] 21' and a cypher of Grigorii Orlov in a laurel wreath held by a cupid, in the foreground a feathered helmet and shield on a package, the background with a sailing boat, a lake, a town and mountains, the rim with twelve various coat-of-arms
9.3 cm.
198 gr.
Special notice
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