Although the techniques used in the creation of this box were widely employed across Europe, it was probably made in England. Similar ribbon-tied sprays of flowers can be found on English enamels of the same date and in a contemporary design source-book, The Ladies Amusement.
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
A shaped rectangular, gold-mounted snuffbox comprising six panels of mother-of-pearl engraved with undulating lines and set with gold sprays of flowers and insects.
Place of Origin
London, England (probably, made)
Date
ca. 1755 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Carved mother of pearl, chased and inlaid gold
Marks and inscriptions
No marks
Dimensions
Length: 6.8 cm, Width: 5.6 cm, Height: 3 cm
Object history note
Provenance: Lord Wharton, London. Wartski, London.
Descriptive line
A shaped rectangular, gold-mounted snuffbox comprising six panels of mother-of-pearl engraved with undulating lines and encrusted with gold sprays of flowers and insects
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Tait, Hugh. 'An anonymous loan to the British Museum, 2: Eighteenth Century Gold Boxes', The Connoisseur, 154, December 1963, pp. 216-25, col. pl. 1, bottom right.
Le Corbeiller, Clare. European and American snuffboxes, 1730-1830. New York: Viking Press, 1966, no. 22.
Truman, Charles.The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, Vol. I. Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1991, cat. no. 101, pp. 294-5. 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)
British Museum (01/01/1963-31/12/1975)
Labels and date
Snuffbox with flowers and insects
About 1755
Probably London, England
Chased and pierced gold over mother-of-pearl
Formerly in the collection of Lord Wharton
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.394-2008 [2009]
Materials
Gold; Mother of pearl
Techniques
Carving; Moulding; Inlay (process)
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Insects; Butterflies; Ribbons; Moths; Dragonflies
Categories
Containers; Personal accessories; Metalwork
Collection code
MET
