BY ALEXANDER JAMES STRACHAN (FL. 1799-1850), MARKED, WITH THE ENGLISH DUTY MARK FOR GOLD 1798-1821, THE LONDON ASSAY OFFICE MARK 1756-1821, LONDON DATE LETTER FOR 1819, THE ENGLISH STANDARD MARK FOR GOLD 1798-1974 AND THE ENGLISH POST-1798 STANDARD MARK FOR 18-CARAT GOLD

Details

A REGENCY THREE-COLOUR GOLD SNUFF-BOX
BY ALEXANDER JAMES STRACHAN (FL. 1799-1850), MARKED, WITH THE ENGLISH DUTY MARK FOR GOLD 1798-1821, THE LONDON ASSAY OFFICE MARK 1756-1821, LONDON DATE LETTER FOR 1819, THE ENGLISH STANDARD MARK FOR GOLD 1798-1974 AND THE ENGLISH POST-1798 STANDARD MARK FOR 18-CARAT GOLD
Oblong box, engine-turned wavy ground, the cover with green gold border of acorns and oak leaves against yellow sablé gold ground, with central vacant rose gold cartouche, slightly raised incorporated thumbpiece, chased with scrolling foliage and rocaille
3¾ in. (95 mm.) wide
5¾ oz. (166 gr.)

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Lot Essay

Alexander James Strachan supplied gold boxes to the royal goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge & Rundell and Wakelin & Garrard. He was referred to as the 'Paul Storr of gold boxes' by Arthur Grimwade (London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837: Their Marks and Lives, London, 1976, pp. 672-73). For a similar vari-colored gold box by Strachan of 1808, also decorated with an acorn and oak leaf border, see C. Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, vol. 2, London, 1999, p. 66, no. 39.

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