Snuffbox
1819-30 (made), 1825 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Micromosaics depicting peasant figures are rarer and usually earlier that those depicting ruins or animals. Such images were often inspired by the engravings of Bartolomeo Pinelli (1781-1835). Whilst the mosaicist in this case remains unknown, the micromosaic on the cover was most likely made in Rome about 1825, unlike the box which was made in Paris by Lecoufle between 1819 and 1830.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Micromosaic, tortoiseshell, enamel and chased varicoloured gold |
| Brief description | Rectangular tortoiseshell snuffbox with a Roman micromosaic framed in varicoloured gold; Nicolas Lecoufle, Paris, 1819-30 |
| Physical description | A rectangular tortoiseshell snuffbox. On the cover is a square micromosaic placed in a wide varicoloured gold frame that is chased with flowers and leaves and then bordered by a narrow band of blue enamel. The micromosaic depicts a couple in folk costume: the woman stands facing the man who is seated on a bench in front of a fence. They both carry walking sticks, indicating that they are resting travellers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | 6. Snuffbox with peasant couple, 1819–30
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.491-2008(16/11/2016) |
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: E. Oxeda, Paris, 1971. |
| Summary | Micromosaics depicting peasant figures are rarer and usually earlier that those depicting ruins or animals. Such images were often inspired by the engravings of Bartolomeo Pinelli (1781-1835). Whilst the mosaicist in this case remains unknown, the micromosaic on the cover was most likely made in Rome about 1825, unlike the box which was made in Paris by Lecoufle between 1819 and 1830. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.491-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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