GENEVA, CIRCA 1800
Details
A Swiss enamelled gold Snuff-Box
Geneva, circa 1800
Rectangular box with rounded corners, the cover inset with a rectangular enamel miniature depicting Columbus explaining the trick with the Egg to five flabbergasted gentlemen, framed by a large frosted gold border stamped with a stylised lotus frieze, two children in swings and scrolling foliage, the base centred by an enamel panel depicting a trelliswork pattern containing a quatrefoil motif painted in translucent dark and light blue on a guilloché ground, the sides similarly enamelled, the corners with champlevé stylised leaves in a black enamelled lozenge
90 mm. (3½ in.) wide
Geneva, circa 1800
Rectangular box with rounded corners, the cover inset with a rectangular enamel miniature depicting Columbus explaining the trick with the Egg to five flabbergasted gentlemen, framed by a large frosted gold border stamped with a stylised lotus frieze, two children in swings and scrolling foliage, the base centred by an enamel panel depicting a trelliswork pattern containing a quatrefoil motif painted in translucent dark and light blue on a guilloché ground, the sides similarly enamelled, the corners with champlevé stylised leaves in a black enamelled lozenge
90 mm. (3½ in.) wide
Provenance
According to a handwritten note accompanying the box, given by the city of Naples to General Paul Grenier in 1810 when governor of Naples and chef d'état-major of Joachim Murat, King of Naples.