Snuffbox
1806-07 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These plaques depict scenes from mythology, including the Judgement of Paris. They may have been taken from a much earlier German casket of 1600-1700. According to Legend, Paris, a Trojan Prince, was asked to judge which of three Greek goddesses, Hera, Athene and Aphrodite, was the fairest. Each offered a different reward in line with their particular powers. Paris selected Aphrodite, and in return was given Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. Their love affair started the Trojan War.
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 | Chased gold and applied silver-gilt |
| Brief description | Rectangular, two-colour-gold snuffbox with silver-gilt plaques; Alexander James Strachan, London, 1806-07 |
| Physical description | Rectangular, two-colour-gold snuffbox with rounded corners, chased overall with scrolling acanthus foliage enclosing thirteen silver-gilt plaques depicting Greek Gods and the Judgement of Paris. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | 4. Snuffbox with Greek gods and Judgement of Paris, 1806–07
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.466-2008(16/11/2016) |
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Sotheby's, London, lot 138, December 18, 1957. Neville Hamwee. Wartski, London. Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1980. |
| Production | The plaques possibly Germany, seventeenth century |
| Summary | These plaques depict scenes from mythology, including the Judgement of Paris. They may have been taken from a much earlier German casket of 1600-1700. According to Legend, Paris, a Trojan Prince, was asked to judge which of three Greek goddesses, Hera, Athene and Aphrodite, was the fairest. Each offered a different reward in line with their particular powers. Paris selected Aphrodite, and in return was given Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. Their love affair started the Trojan War. 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.466-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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