Snuffbox
ca. 1760-1765 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In England, few porcelain and pottery snuffboxes were made. The Chelsea porcelain factory made small decorative objects, particularly in 1758-69, although the term 'snuffbox' does not appear in surviving documents of the time. This box could also have held small sweetmeats or pills. The mounts were also made in England, possibly Birmingham.
Snuffboxes made out of porcelain followed the shapes of those made in gold and hardstones. Painted scenes or portraits ornamented the sides, covers and interiors. Changing forms and decoration were important, as these fashion accessories might be chosen to match the season or a particular costume. Most European (though rarely English) porcelain factories made snuffboxes. The largest producer was Meissen in Germany, which manufactured vast quantities of boxes from about 1735-65. A price list of 1765 mentions 11 varieties, the cheapest painted with flowers.
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.
Snuffboxes made out of porcelain followed the shapes of those made in gold and hardstones. Painted scenes or portraits ornamented the sides, covers and interiors. Changing forms and decoration were important, as these fashion accessories might be chosen to match the season or a particular costume. Most European (though rarely English) porcelain factories made snuffboxes. The largest producer was Meissen in Germany, which manufactured vast quantities of boxes from about 1735-65. A price list of 1765 mentions 11 varieties, the cheapest painted with flowers.
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 and engraved gold with enamelled soft-paste porcelain, carved hardstone and diamond |
Brief description | Gold-mounted enamelled porcelain snuffbox; London (Chelsea), ca.1760-65 |
Physical description | An enamelled, gold-mounted hardstone and soft-paste porcelain box formed as a girl's head, the base of agate mounted in gold. Je te connais beau masque is enamelled around the rim of the base with a scrolling thumbpiece in the front. The mount for the head is chased with scrolls and flowers. The girl's head is painted in enamel colours with red lips, flesh tones, black patches and mask, with diamond set eyes, her hair is in a white cap with a red ribbon border. |
Dimensions |
|
Marks and inscriptions | JE TE CONNAIS/
BEAU MASQUE (on rim of lid)
|
Gallery label |
|
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, 1989. Le Grand Frisson Exhibition RF.2005/788 |
Subject depicted | |
Literary references |
|
Summary | In England, few porcelain and pottery snuffboxes were made. The Chelsea porcelain factory made small decorative objects, particularly in 1758-69, although the term 'snuffbox' does not appear in surviving documents of the time. This box could also have held small sweetmeats or pills. The mounts were also made in England, possibly Birmingham. Snuffboxes made out of porcelain followed the shapes of those made in gold and hardstones. Painted scenes or portraits ornamented the sides, covers and interiors. Changing forms and decoration were important, as these fashion accessories might be chosen to match the season or a particular costume. Most European (though rarely English) porcelain factories made snuffboxes. The largest producer was Meissen in Germany, which manufactured vast quantities of boxes from about 1735-65. A price list of 1765 mentions 11 varieties, the cheapest painted with flowers. 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 |
|
Other numbers |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.497-2008 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | June 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest