Goldsmiths from France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and England were attracted to the wealth of the Russian court at St Petersburg in the 18th century. Charles-Jacques de Mailly, to whom this decoration is attributed, exhibited at the Salon in Paris in 1771, but by 1775 was working in Moscow. This snuffbox in the form of a basket opens to reveal a trompe l'oeil of fruit and vegetables. The box's decoration is attributed to de Mailly based on a similar signed example now in the Musée du Louvre.
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.
Physical description
An enamelled gold snuffbox comprising ten panels painted on the outside with basketwork, with reeded gold mounts. The inside is painted with a profusion of fruits and vegetables. On the outer face is ropework delineating the panels on the walls.
Place of Origin
St. Petersburg, Russia (probably, made)
Date
ca. 1775 (made)
Artist/maker
de Mailly, Charles-Jacques, born 1740 - died 1817 (probably, enameller)
Materials and Techniques
Enamelled gold
Marks and inscriptions
No marks
Dimensions
Diameter: 5.8 cm, Height: 3.5 cm
Object history note
Provenance: S. J. Phillips, London.
Descriptive line
Enamelled gold snuffbox; probably St Petersburg, ca.1775, the decoration probably Charles-Jacques de Mailly
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Habsburg-Lothringen, Géza von. Gold boxes from the collection of Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert. R. & A. Gilbert, 1983. 125 p., ill. Cat. no. 10, p. 35. ISBN 0961039809.
Truman, Charles.The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, Vol. I. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1991, cat. no. 130, pp. 376-7. ISBN.0875871623
Exhibition History
Gold Boxes from the Gilbert Collection (Los Angeles County Museum of Art 01/01/1986-31/12/1987)
Gold Boxes from the Gilbert Collection (Los Angeles County Museum of Art 01/01/1986-31/12/1987)
Gold Boxes from the Gilbert Collection (Los Angeles County Museum of Art 01/01/1986-31/12/1987)
Labels and date
Basket-shaped snuffbox
About 1775
Probably St Petersburg, Russia;
enamels probably by Charles-Jacques de Mailly (1740–1817)
Enamelled gold, interior enamelled
with fruit and vegetables
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.345-2008 [2009]
Production Note
The decoration attributed to Charles-Jacques de Mailly, St. Petersburg, ca. 1775
Materials
Gold; Enamel
Techniques
Enamelling
Subjects depicted
Fruit; Grapes; Berries; Vegetables; Basketwork; Strawberries; Plums; Nuts; Lemon (fruit)
Categories
Containers; Personal accessories; Metalwork; Enamels
Collection code
MET
