CIRCA 1740, THE MOUNTS CONTEMPORARY

Details

A MEISSEN GOLD-MOUNTED SNUFF-BOX AND COVER
CIRCA 1740, THE MOUNTS CONTEMPORARY
Of cartouche shape, painted after Watteau with a continuous scene of gallants and companions in parkland, the base with elegant figures beside a fountain, the hinged cover with a gentleman attending two ladies before a classical building with indistinct inscription above arches and statues and a tall pedestal supporting an urn in the foreground, within a gilt scroll border, the interior with a lady reading from an indistinctly inscribed letter, with Cupid peering over her shoulder, the box interior richly gilt, the gold mount with shell thumbpiece (slight wear to enamels at edge of base, small flake to gilt interior)
3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) wide

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Finarte, Milan, 18 May 1983, lot 191.
With Winifred Williams, London, from whom it was acquired on 13 June 1983.

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Lot Essay

The classical buildings and fountains depicted on this snuff-box appear to be inspired by Italian architecture. The monument painted in the background on the cover is similar to the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola fountain on Janiculum Hill in Rome. Giovanni Battista Falda created a series of engravings 'Le fontane di Roma nelle piazze e luoghi publici della citta' which were published between 1665 and 1691 and included a depiction of the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola; this may have provided the inspiration for the painting on the cover of the present lot.

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