Lot Essay
Jean-Franois Defer was cautioned by the gold box maker Jean-Baptiste Carnay and struck his mark in 1766. He was last mentioned in 1789.
BY JEAN-FRANOIS DEFER, MARKED, PARIS, 1765/1766, WITH THE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF JEAN-JACQUES PRÉVOST AND THE COUNTERMARK OF JULIEN ALATERRE, THE ENAMEL MINIATURE RUSSIAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1765
Details
A LOUIS XV VARI-COLOUR GOLD SNUFF-BOX WITH MINIATURE INSIDE
by Jean-Franois Defer, marked, Paris, 1765/1766, with the charge and discharge marks of Jean-Jacques Prévost and the countermark of Julien Alaterre, the enamel miniature Russian school, circa 1765
Oval two-colour gold box, the cover, sides and base chased with a sun-flower motif on a frosted ground within a ribbon-twist border, flanked by flutes, the cover and base rims chased with laurel wreaths, the vase-shaped four side pilasters hung with laurel garlands, the inside of the lid applied with an oval enamel miniature finely painted with the portrait of a lady, facing left in frill-bordered white dress, mob-cap with pink ribbons and black lace veil, pearl necklace, in a gold frame
90 mm. (3.1/2 in.) wide
165 gr. (5 oz.) gross
by Jean-Franois Defer, marked, Paris, 1765/1766, with the charge and discharge marks of Jean-Jacques Prévost and the countermark of Julien Alaterre, the enamel miniature Russian school, circa 1765
Oval two-colour gold box, the cover, sides and base chased with a sun-flower motif on a frosted ground within a ribbon-twist border, flanked by flutes, the cover and base rims chased with laurel wreaths, the vase-shaped four side pilasters hung with laurel garlands, the inside of the lid applied with an oval enamel miniature finely painted with the portrait of a lady, facing left in frill-bordered white dress, mob-cap with pink ribbons and black lace veil, pearl necklace, in a gold frame
90 mm. (3.1/2 in.) wide
165 gr. (5 oz.) gross