Joseph-Etienne Blerzy, whose mark appears upon this box, was one of the most productive of all French box makers. The miniature of Madame de Maintenon (1635-1719) was added later to this box. She was the second wife of Louis XIV of France, although the marriage was never publicly acknowledged. The miniature was painted in the second half of the nineteenth century, probably in France.
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
Oval gold snuffbox enamelled en plein in yellow over an engine-turned ground, the cover bordered by chased gold foliage enamelled in translucent green, 'pearls' and pellets in translucent red, with a blue and white fillet within. The centre was later set with a miniature, under glass, of Madame de Maintenon, bust length, turned three quarters to the right, in the style of Petitot, within an opaque white frame. The walls are divided by pilasters and bordered in opaque white 'pearls', translucent green foliage and red berries, and the yellow-enamelled base is similarly bordered.
Place of Origin
Paris, France (made)
France (probably, painted)
Date
1776-77 (made)
1850-1900 (painted)
Artist/maker
Blerzy, Joseph-Etienne (box maker)
Materials and Techniques
Gold, enamel, glazed miniature
Marks and inscriptions
Mark of Joseph-Etienne Blerzy
Marks for Paris ca. 1776-1777
Restricted warranty mark for Paris, 10 May, 1838 onwards
Stamped '552'
Dimensions
Width: 8.2 cm, Depth: 6.2 cm, Height: 3.8 cm
Object history note
Provenance: George IV of England to Lord Glenlyon. Augustus Henry, 3rd Duke of Grafton. George, 4th Duke of Marlborough. Lady Churchill. Admiral the Hon. J.W.S. Spencer. S.J.Phillips, London.
Descriptive line
Gold, enamel, glazed miniature, Paris, 1776-7, Joseph Etienne Bierzy
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Truman, Charles. The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, volume II, London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd., 1999, cat. no. 5, pp. 18-19. ISBN.0856675210
Coffin, Sarah and Bodo Hofstetter. Portrait Miniatures in Enamel. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd. in association with the Gilbert Collection, 2000, 168 p., ill. Cat. no. 88, p. 136-137. ISBN 0856675334.
Exhibition History
Portland Art Museum (Portland Art Museum 01/01/1995-31/12/1997)
Labels and date
Snuffbox with miniature of Madame de Maintenon, wife of Louis XIV
Box: 1776–7. Miniature: 1850–1900
Madame de Maintenon (1635–1719) was the second wife
of Louis XIV of France. Her miniature was added later
to this box.
Box: Paris, France;
mark of Joseph-Etienne Blerzy (active 1768–1800s)
Miniature: probably France;
enamelled in the style of Jean Petitot (1607–91)
Gold and enamel, with glazed miniature added later
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.376-2008 [2009]
Production Note
The enamel portrait is based on a painting by Pierre Mignard
Materials
Gold; Enamel; Glass
Techniques
Enamelling; Chasing; Glazing (glass)
Subjects depicted
Pearls; A lady; Maintenon, Françoise de (Marquise de Maintenon)
Categories
Containers; Personal accessories; Metalwork; Portraits; Enamels
Collection code
MET
