A jewelled, enamelled and gold-mounted hardstone Snuff-Box set with a Russian Portrait Miniature

THE BOX FRENCH, CIRCA 1890, WITH INDISTINCT MAKER'S MARK IN A HORIZONTAL LOZENGE, THE PORTRAIT MINIATURE RUSSIAN, CIRCA 1805

Details

A jewelled, enamelled and gold-mounted hardstone Snuff-Box set with a Russian Portrait Miniature
the box French, circa 1890, with indistinct maker's mark in a horizontal lozenge, the portrait miniature Russian, circa 1805
Rectangular semi-translucent grey agate box, the cover centred by a gold-mounted oval enamel plaque painted with the portrait of Tsar Alexander I of Russia (1777-1825) in profile to the left, simulating a sardonyx cameo, on a violet ground, the gold mounts of the box enamelled with white dots and blue waves, the pushpiece set with a sapphire cabochon flanked by four rose-cut diamonds
82 mm. (3¼ in.) wide

Provenance

Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 20 November 1970, lot 53, illustrated, sold $1,100.

Lot Essay

The enamel miniature is reminiscent of the work of Anthelme-François Lagrénée (1774-1832) who spent several years in St. Petersburg and specialised in portrait miniatures depicting the sitters as in the present case.

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