Charles Le Bastier (fl. 1754–1783) was one of the foremost gold box makers active during the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI, the most creative period in the development of snuff-boxes. A prolific and highly accomplished maker, he produced an extensive body of work through which his distinctive personal style can be traced. Clare Le Corbeiller described this style as being “characterised by classical restraint, a spare use of ornament, and the frequent use of subtle – sometimes contrasting – enamel colours” (European and American Snuff Boxes 1730–1830, London, 1966, p. 29).A closely related example by Le Bastier, also dated 1767⁄1768, is in the Musée du Louvre and features similarly conceived enamel decoration, notably the striking contrast of pale green and royal blue. See S.Grandjean, Les tabatières du musée du Louvre, Paris, 1981, p. 122, no. 139, gifted to the museum by the Baronne Salomon de Rothschild, Adèle de Rothschild).Christie’s sold a comparable snuff-box also dated 1767 from the Marber Collection, (London, 22 September 2022 lot 160) with similar enamelling also after an engraving by Hubert François Gravelot depicting Melpomene crowning Mademoiselle Clairon.Interestingly the engraving on this box is from a series published in 1767, the date of this snuff-box which shows not only how enamellers used newly published engravings but also reflected in their work the popularity of certain images fashionable at the time.
This box which served as a presentation box was a gift of Napoléon III.
Although it is not period to his reign it is possible that the emperor gifted a box from his collection or purchased from his jewellers. Sadly the recipient’s name was later erased leaving their identity unknown.