Lot Essay
A similar box by Le Bastier is in the Louvre (see S. Grandjean, Les tabatières du musée du Louvre, Paris, 1981, pp. 123-124, no. 142).
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BY CHARLES LE BASTIER (FL. 1754-1783), MARKED, PARIS, 1774/1775, WITH THE CHARGE AND EXPORT DISCHARGE MARKS OF JEAN-BAPTISTE FOUACHE 1774-1780, STRUCK WITH INVENTORY NO. 86 AND LATER WITH TWO PARISIAN POST-1838 RESTRICTED WARRANTY MARKS FOR GOLD
Details
A LOUIS XVI ENAMELLED TWO-COLOUR GOLD SNUFF-BOX SET WITH AN ENAMEL PLAQUE
by Charles Le Bastier (fl. 1754-1783), marked, Paris, 1774/1775, with the charge and export discharge marks of Jean-Baptiste Fouache 1774-1780, struck with inventory no. 86 and later with two Parisian post-1838 restricted warranty marks for gold
Oval box, the cover, four side panels and base enamelled in translucent gun-metal grey on a vertical engine-turned coin pattern, the lid centred by an oval enamel miniature finely painted with a scène champêtre of an amorous peasant couple resting in a landscape, within a bright-cut and a tied laurel wreath border, the translucent orange enamelled reeded borders of cover and base applied with a gold band of acanthus leaves alternating with shells, the four translucent orange enamelled reeded side pilasters applied with gold trophies of music, dance and gardening hung from knotted ribbons, the side rims of the cover similarly adorned with bands of laurel alternating with swirling rosettes
3 5/16 in. (84 mm.) wide
by Charles Le Bastier (fl. 1754-1783), marked, Paris, 1774/1775, with the charge and export discharge marks of Jean-Baptiste Fouache 1774-1780, struck with inventory no. 86 and later with two Parisian post-1838 restricted warranty marks for gold
Oval box, the cover, four side panels and base enamelled in translucent gun-metal grey on a vertical engine-turned coin pattern, the lid centred by an oval enamel miniature finely painted with a scène champêtre of an amorous peasant couple resting in a landscape, within a bright-cut and a tied laurel wreath border, the translucent orange enamelled reeded borders of cover and base applied with a gold band of acanthus leaves alternating with shells, the four translucent orange enamelled reeded side pilasters applied with gold trophies of music, dance and gardening hung from knotted ribbons, the side rims of the cover similarly adorned with bands of laurel alternating with swirling rosettes
3 5/16 in. (84 mm.) wide