Snuffbox
ca. 1810 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Francesco de Poletti, who made the micromosaic set on the base of this box, was one of the most important Roman micromosaicists of his time. It has been suggested that the lapis lazuli oval on the cover is in fact a replacement for either a mosaic or a miniature. Either way, the box itself was probably made in Germany.
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 | Chased gold, carved lapis lazuli, garnets, enamel and glass micromosaic |
| Brief description | A rectangular, enamelled gold and hardstone snuffbox, the cover set with a cushion-shaped piece of lapis lazuli in gold |
| Physical description | A rectangular, enamelled gold and hardstone snuffbox, the cover set with a cushion-shaped piece of lapis lazuli in gold. The base is set with a glass micromosaic allegory of Time. |
| Dimensions |
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| 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: Sotheby's, New York. |
| Summary | Francesco de Poletti, who made the micromosaic set on the base of this box, was one of the most important Roman micromosaicists of his time. It has been suggested that the lapis lazuli oval on the cover is in fact a replacement for either a mosaic or a miniature. Either way, the box itself was probably made in Germany. 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 reference | Truman, Charles.The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, Vol. I. Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1991, cat. no. 125, pp. 356-7. ISBN.0875871623 |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.434-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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