Snuffbox
ca. 1828 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Inside the cover of this box is a half-length portrait miniature of Sir William Drummond (1770-1828). Educated at Oxford, Drummond was appointed envoy to the court of Naples in 1801. In 1803 he became ambassador to the Ottoman Porte (Constantinople) and received the Turkish Order of the Crescent, which is shown on the left lapel of his cloak. He also wears the badge for the Neapolitan Order of Saint Januarius, awarded to him upon his return to Naples in 1806.
This is made up of a variety of hardstones or pietre dure. Hardstone mosaic techniques emerged in Florence, where Ferdinand de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, founded the Grand Ducal Workshop (Opificio delle Pietre Dure) in 1588. It still operates today under the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage.
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.
This is made up of a variety of hardstones or pietre dure. Hardstone mosaic techniques emerged in Florence, where Ferdinand de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, founded the Grand Ducal Workshop (Opificio delle Pietre Dure) in 1588. It still operates today under the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage.
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 | Inlaid lapis lazuli, bloodstone, malachite, agate, chalcedony, quartz, foil with glazed ivory miniature and chased gold mounts |
Brief description | Rectangular, gold-mounted hardstone snuffbox; Giovanni Andrea Mascelli, Rome, ca.1828 |
Physical description | Rectangular, gold-mounted hardstone snuffbox, the cover composed of eleven plaques of bloodstone and straited and foiled agates, the walls composed of malachite and the interior of the lid set with a miniature of Sir William Drummond. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Engraved inside 'Fratelli Mascelli a Roma' and 'Right Honourable Sir William Drummond 1828' |
Gallery label |
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Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: S.J Phillips, London, 1980. Historical significance: Sir William Drummond (1770-1828) was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and became Member of Parliament for St. Mawes, Cornwall in 1795. In 1801 he was sworn to the Privy Council and appointed envoy extraordinary to the Court of Naples and in 1803 appointed Ambassador to Constantinople. He retired in 1809 and died in Rome in 1828. |
Historical context | The brothers Giovanni Andrea (1796-1870) and Giovacchino Mascelli had a goldsmith's shop at 90/91 Piazza di Spagna, Rome. |
Summary | Inside the cover of this box is a half-length portrait miniature of Sir William Drummond (1770-1828). Educated at Oxford, Drummond was appointed envoy to the court of Naples in 1801. In 1803 he became ambassador to the Ottoman Porte (Constantinople) and received the Turkish Order of the Crescent, which is shown on the left lapel of his cloak. He also wears the badge for the Neapolitan Order of Saint Januarius, awarded to him upon his return to Naples in 1806. This is made up of a variety of hardstones or pietre dure. Hardstone mosaic techniques emerged in Florence, where Ferdinand de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, founded the Grand Ducal Workshop (Opificio delle Pietre Dure) in 1588. It still operates today under the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage. 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. |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.440-2008 |
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Record created | June 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
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