Snuffbox
ca.1745 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The panels of this box are set with burgau shell and gold, a technique known as laque burgauté. Burgau shell comes from the green sea snail (turbo marmoreus). It became very popular in the 1800s and 1900s in Europe for jewellery, fans, buttons and instrument inlay due to its clear, creamy colour and iridescence. However, the main fishing grounds became depleted and it is now little used. The technique originated in China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), where it was also used to cover unglazed porcelain and was also widely used in Japan in the Tokugawa period (1603-1867).
The style of these panels, decorated with fanciful Chinese scenes, is typical of the 1740s. Although the box bears spurious 18th century marks, it is likely to have been put together in the 19th century using earlier panels.
The style of these panels, decorated with fanciful Chinese scenes, is typical of the 1740s. Although the box bears spurious 18th century marks, it is likely to have been put together in the 19th century using earlier panels.
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Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Chased gold, laquer, inlaid hardstones, burgau shell and gold |
| Brief description | Snuffbox with Chinese scenes. Gold, lacquer, hardstone, burgau shell. France, ca.1745 (box frame later) |
| Physical description | A rectangular gold-mounted laque burgauté snuffbox, comprising six black japanned panels encrusted with shell, hardstones and gold depicting Chinese scenes |
| Dimensions |
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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, 1987. |
| Summary | The panels of this box are set with burgau shell and gold, a technique known as laque burgauté. Burgau shell comes from the green sea snail (turbo marmoreus). It became very popular in the 1800s and 1900s in Europe for jewellery, fans, buttons and instrument inlay due to its clear, creamy colour and iridescence. However, the main fishing grounds became depleted and it is now little used. The technique originated in China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), where it was also used to cover unglazed porcelain and was also widely used in Japan in the Tokugawa period (1603-1867). The style of these panels, decorated with fanciful Chinese scenes, is typical of the 1740s. Although the box bears spurious 18th century marks, it is likely to have been put together in the 19th century using earlier panels. |
| Bibliographic reference | Truman, Charles.The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, Vol. I. Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1991, cat. no. 55, pp. 166-7. ISBN.0875871623 |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.1039-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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