Bonbonnière - a box for sweets- is a term used today for boxes without hinges. At the end of the eighteenth century, when this box was made, it could apply to boxes with hinges as well.

Coloured hardstones decorate this bonbonnière, including carnelian, turquoise, jasper, and lapis lazuli.The technique of mounting hardstones may be attributed to the workshop of Christian Neuber, working in Dresden. The lid and base of the box are set with micromosaic panels of a dog and a butterfly. The style of these, especially the butterfly on the base of the box, bear close relation to the mosaics of Giacomo Raffaelli and his studio. Raffaelli was one of the most talented Roman mosaicists. He was possibly the first artist to work in this medium, around 1775. The inclusion of Roman micromosaics upon this German box demonstrates the popularity of this medium in Europe in the 18th century.

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.