Snuffbox
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Saxony was rich in minerals and hardstones, leading to a blossoming of lapidary (polished stone) work. The city of Dresden was home to a treasury which was later extended by Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (ruled 1694-1733). This famous Green Vault (as it was known) encouraged the production of luxury objects. Under Augustus' successors, the goldsmiths Heinrich Taddel and his successor Johann Christian Neuber became its directors.
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 | Amethyst inlaid with gold, burgau shell and resinous ground |
| Brief description | Gold-mounted amethystine quartz snuffbox inlaid with gold, burgau shell on a resinuous ground; Heinrich Taddel (signed), Dresden, ca.1750 |
| Physical description | A shaped-oblong amethystine quartz snuffbox and bombé sides, inlaid with gold and burgau shell slivers on a resinuous ground; the cover depicting a Chinese-style pavilion, the sides sprays of flowers, chased gold mounts |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Engraved on the bezel: TADDELL.a.DRESDEN |
| 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: Christie's, Geneva, lot.58, May 10, 1983. S. J. Phillips, London, 1983. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Saxony was rich in minerals and hardstones, leading to a blossoming of lapidary (polished stone) work. The city of Dresden was home to a treasury which was later extended by Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (ruled 1694-1733). This famous Green Vault (as it was known) encouraged the production of luxury objects. Under Augustus' successors, the goldsmiths Heinrich Taddel and his successor Johann Christian Neuber became its directors. 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.400-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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