BY PIERRE-FRANÇOIS DRAIS (FL. 1763-1788), MARKED, PARIS, 1770/1771, WITH THE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF JULIEN ALATERRE 1768-1774, THE FLANGE ENGRAVED 'DRAIS A PARIS', THE MINIATURE ON THE COVER BY RICHARD COSWAY R.A. (1742-1821), CIRCA 1771, THE MINIATURE ON THE BASE BY SAMUEL COTES (1734-1818), SIGNED WITH INITIALS AND DATED 'S C 1771.' (MID-RIGHT)

Details

A LOUIS XV GOLD SNUFF-BOX SET WITH TWO MINIATURES ON HAIR PANELS
BY PIERRE-FRANÇOIS DRAIS (FL. 1763-1788), MARKED, PARIS, 1770/1771, WITH THE CHARGE AND DISCHARGE MARKS OF JULIEN ALATERRE 1768-1774, THE FLANGE ENGRAVED 'DRAIS A PARIS', THE MINIATURE ON THE COVER BY RICHARD COSWAY R.A. (1742-1821), CIRCA 1771, THE MINIATURE ON THE BASE BY SAMUEL COTES (1734-1818), SIGNED WITH INITIALS AND DATED 'S C 1771.' (MID-RIGHT)
rectangular box, the cover and base inset with gold-bordered oval portrait miniatures of young ladies set on brown hair panels under glass, the lady on the cover by Richard Cosway R.A., seated on a red upholstered chair and leaning on her right arm, in lace-bordered white cloak, blue dress, lace mob-cap, black choker, the lady on the base by Samuel Cotes, in fur-bordered white cloak, blue dress with ruched corset and matching choker, high-piled grey powdered hair, pearl earring, the side walls of the box chased with vertical wavy gadrooned flutes alternating with wavy bands containing flowerheads, polished gold rims scattered with pellets
3 1/8 in. (79 mm.) wide

Provenance

With Jack Rayman, London.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Lot Essay

Pierre-François Drais (1726-1788) was a pupil of one of his Ducrollay cousins, who was a Parisian master goldsmith. He struck his mark in 1763 and was soon employed by the service of the Menus Plaisirs du Roi. Thus he was commissioned for the famous gold box made for the marriage of the Comte d'Artois to Princess Marie-Thérèse of Savoy. As a result, Drais became bijoutier du Roi and had among his clients Madame du Barry and, later, King Louis XVI of France.

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