THE BOX MARK OF ALEXANDER STRACHAN, LONDON, 1827; THE PLAQUE ATTRIBUTED TO ANTONIO AGUATTI, ROME (D. 1846)

The meticulously detailed works of Aguatti and other micromosaic artists were often incorporated into snuffboxes in their original gilt-metal or silver-gilt frames, as here. Alternately, some box makers remounted the micromosaic frames so that they were integral to the boxes. For examples of both types, see: Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, 1991.


This present example and a similar example of a seated spaniel mosaic, signed by Aguatti (in the collection of the British Museum) are illustrated in Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection of Micromosaics, 2000, p. 75.