BY MUSY, TURIN, CIRCA 1860, MARKED WITH THE TURIN TOWN MARK, THE MINIATURE BY LUIGI GANDOLFI (1810-1869), SIGNED 'GANDOLFI.' (LOWER RIGHT), THE FLANGE ENGRAVED WITH INVENTARY NO. 'TU., NO 132'

Details

A RARE ITALIAN GOLD PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX SET WITH A MINIATURE
by Musy, Turin, circa 1860, marked with the Turin town mark, the miniature by Luigi Gandolfi (1810-1869), signed 'Gandolfi.' (lower right), the flange engraved with inventary no. 'TU., No 132'
Rectangular box of wavy rounded outlines, the cover centred by a glazed oval miniature depicting King Vittorio Emanuele II of Sardinia (1820-1878), in red-piped dark uniform with silver-figured red collar, silver epaulettes, aiguillettes and buttons, decorated with the gold jewel and breast-star of the Royal Sardinian Order of the Most Sacred Annunciation, the 1833 Military Medal of Savoy and another medal, brown dyed moustache, beard and hair, cloudy sky background within a plain gold mount, the matted gold box all over stamped and engraved with scolling foliage and flowers, the base engraved with the arms of Savoy a Royal crown above and hung with the chain of the order of the Most Sacred Annunciation, plain gold rims; original fitted red plush case, the silk-lined inside of the lid gilt-stamped 'MUSY. PERE. ET. FILS TURIN' around the Royal arms of Sardinia, and the outside of the case gilt-stamped with initials 'V.E' a royal crown above
3¾ in. (96 mm.) wide (2)

Provenance

Purportedly from the Cabinet of Empress Eugénie of France, Tuileries Palace, Paris, inv. no. 132.
Christie's, Geneva, 14 May 1985, lot 157.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium

Lot Essay

Vittorio Emanuel II, son of Carlo Alberto of Savoy-Carignan (see lot 209), was King of Sardinia 1849-1861 and the first King of freshly united Italy 1861-1878.
A larger miniature of the King by Gandolfi is illustrated on the front cover of the exhibition catalogue Miniature Sabaude, Turin, Unione Industriale Torino, 1996.
The Musy family - Antonio, Giuseppe and Vincenzo - were descendants of a long line of Turinese jewellers and watchmakers. Their ancestor Giacomo (Jacques) Musy, born in Annecy, settled in Turin and opened a workshop in 1707. Giacomo and Claudio Musy were appointed court jewellers to Louis de Savoy, Prince de Carignan, in 1765. The firm is still in existence.

More from IMPORTANT GOLD BOXES,OBJECTS OF VERTU & PORTRAIT MINIATURES

View All