A GERMAN ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX

BY LES FRÈRES SOUCHAY, MARKED, HANAU, CIRCA 1780, STRUCK WITH THE HANAU TOWN MARK FOR 19 CARAT GOLD, A CROWNED LETTER K AND A MARK RESEMBLING THE CHARGE MARK OF JULIEN ALATERRE

Details

A GERMAN ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX
BY LES FRÈRES SOUCHAY, MARKED, HANAU, CIRCA 1780, STRUCK WITH THE HANAU TOWN MARK FOR 19 CARAT GOLD, A CROWNED LETTER K AND A MARK RESEMBLING THE CHARGE MARK OF JULIEN ALATERRE
oval box, the cover, sides and base set with panels of translucent dark-blue enamel on an engine-turned ground stamped at intervals with pellets within white enamel fillets, the sablé gold borders set with opaque white taille d’épargne enamel entrelac frames and slightly raised chased green enamel foliage with similar side pilasters, the cover centred with an oval enamel plaque depicting a classical scene
3½ in. (87 mm.) wide

Brought to you by

David McLachlan

dmclachan@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2650

Lot Essay

The brothers Esay (1723-1791) and Marc André Souchay (1730-1811) came from one of Hanau's Huguenot families of bijoutiers, French speaking Huguenot jewellers came to Hanau by the privileges and financial incentives extended by Prince Regent William (1682-1760), later Landgrave William VIII (1730-1760), to anyone who was willing to set up in business in Hanau. Within a very short period of time, Hanau developed into an important center for luxury goods with some thirty-two bijoutiers involved in the production of gold boxes.

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