Snuffbox
ca.1770 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
While hardstones were often used as decorative elements in German boxes of the mid to late eighteenth century, the use of enamelled gold inlays, as seen on this box, is much less common. The panel in the lid of this box is a later glass replacement.
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
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Chased gold, rock crystal, glass and painted enamel |
| Brief description | Snuffbox, gold, rock crystal and enamel set with diamonds, Dresden?, ca.1770 |
| Physical description | Rectangular snuffbox comprising six panels of rock crystal, inset with five butterflies and one dragonfly of gold, painted in translucent enamel colours; the back of each is of finely engraved gold, mounted in varicoloured gold chased with swags, foliage and rosettes over an engraved ground. The ribbon and flower thumbpiece is set with diamonds. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | No marks |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Baron Karl von Rothschild, Frankfurt am Main, 1886. Emma Louise (his daughter), wife of Nathan Meyer, 1st Lord Rothschild. By descent to Victor, 3rd Rothschild. Christies, London, 30/06/1982, lot 26. Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1995. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | While hardstones were often used as decorative elements in German boxes of the mid to late eighteenth century, the use of enamelled gold inlays, as seen on this box, is much less common. The panel in the lid of this box is a later glass replacement. 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.419-2008 |
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
