Snuffbox
ca. 1775 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Goldsmiths from France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and England were attracted to the wealth of the Russian court at St Petersburg in the 18th century.The box's decoration is attributed to de Mailly based on a similar signed example now in the Musée du Louvre. Charles-Jacques de Mailly 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.
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
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Enamelled gold |
| Brief description | Enamelled gold snuffbox; probably St Petersburg, ca.1775, the decoration probably Charles-Jacques de Mailly |
| 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. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | No marks |
| 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 Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1982. |
| Production | The decoration attributed to Charles-Jacques de Mailly, St. Petersburg, ca. 1775 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Goldsmiths from France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and England were attracted to the wealth of the Russian court at St Petersburg in the 18th century.The box's decoration is attributed to de Mailly based on a similar signed example now in the Musée du Louvre. Charles-Jacques de Mailly 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. 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.345-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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