Lot Essay
A very similar Dresden fantaisie box, from the Hermitage, Saint-Peterburg, is illustrated in A. Kenneth Snowman, Eighteenth Century Gold Boxes of Europe, London, 1966, nr 520.
Details
A JEWELLED GOLD-MOUNTED AMETHYSTINE QUARTZ FANCY SNUFF-BOX
in the Rococo style, circa 1880
Oval hardstone box naturalistically carved as a basket, with slightly bombé cover and tapering base, the reeded gold mounts applied with a scrolling thumbpiece set with two silver-mounted rose-cut diamonds flanking an amethyst, rose-cut diamonds adorning the two silver handles -- 62 mm wide
in the Rococo style, circa 1880
Oval hardstone box naturalistically carved as a basket, with slightly bombé cover and tapering base, the reeded gold mounts applied with a scrolling thumbpiece set with two silver-mounted rose-cut diamonds flanking an amethyst, rose-cut diamonds adorning the two silver handles -- 62 mm wide
Provenance
Comte Mimerel Collection, sold Paris, Hôtel Drouot, room 6, 18-22 April 1910, lot 272, illustr. pl. 20.