MARK OF MELCHIOR-RENÉ BARRE, PARIS, 1774

Details

A LOUIS XVI VARI-COLOUR GOLD SNUFF-BOX
MARK OF MELCHIOR-RENÉ BARRE, PARIS, 1774
Oblong, with curved ends, the cover, base and sides chased with oval reserves centered by trophies of the Arts framed by bands of bellflowers and architectural panels engraved with trellis, marked in cover, base and side: charge, date-letter (L) and maker; on flange: decharge and control mark for gold after 1838
3 3⁄8 in. (8.6 cm.) long
4 oz. 1 dwt. (125 gr.)

Provenance

with Wartski, London.
Acquired from the above by the Blaquier-Arrieta Family.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Charlotte Young Associate Director, Specialist

cyoung@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2730

Lot Essay

Melchior-René Barré was apprenticed to the master gold box maker Jean Frémin in 1751 and entered his mark in 1768, sponsored by Jean-Louis Bouillerot and whilst residing in Place Dauphine. In 1774 he moved to the quai des Orfèvres, advertising the loss of 'une tabatière marbrée avec un portrait de femme'. Barré retired in 1791. (H. Nocq, Le Poinçon de Paris, vol. I, 1926, pp. 70-71).

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