Snuffbox
1764-65 (marked)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Egg-shaped boxes were very popular in the 18th century, especially in England, where they were often made of materials such as gold-mounted agates and enamelled copper. Sèvres porcelain boxes shaped as eggs however appear to be very rare. It is possible that, since this box was exported from France between 1764-5 and 1781-9, shown by the gold marks, it was a special commission for an English customer of the Sèvres factory.
The Sèvres porcelain factory moved from Vincennes in 1756 and in 1759 became a royal manufacturer. After the decline of the Meissen factory, it became the preeminent porcelain manufacturer in Europe.
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.
The Sèvres porcelain factory moved from Vincennes in 1756 and in 1759 became a royal manufacturer. After the decline of the Meissen factory, it became the preeminent porcelain manufacturer in Europe.
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
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Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Enamelled soft-paste porcelain with chased gold mounts |
Brief description | Louis XVI porcelain and gold snuffbox in the shape of an egg, Paris, Sèvres, 1764-65 |
Physical description | A gold-mounted soft-paste porcelain box in the shape of an egg, painted in enamel colours with red oeil de perdrix on a pale blue ground, with flower garland borders, and with a rosette at the top and bottom. The gold mounts are chased with a guilloche and Greek key pattern. |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Gallery label | 16. Box in the shape of an egg
1764–65
At the French factory in Sèvres, porcelain boxes were only a small part of production. After 1760, hardly any were made as the firm instead concentrated on tableware, making this Sèvres box extremely rare. It might have been made for export since egg-shaped boxes were popular in Britain at the time.
Box: Sèvres, France
Mounts: Paris, France
Soft-paste porcelain, enamel colours and gold(16/11/2016) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: Mrs.Elizabeth Parke Firestone, sale, Christie's, New York, November 19, 1982, lot 41. S.J. Phillips, London, 1989. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Egg-shaped boxes were very popular in the 18th century, especially in England, where they were often made of materials such as gold-mounted agates and enamelled copper. Sèvres porcelain boxes shaped as eggs however appear to be very rare. It is possible that, since this box was exported from France between 1764-5 and 1781-9, shown by the gold marks, it was a special commission for an English customer of the Sèvres factory. The Sèvres porcelain factory moved from Vincennes in 1756 and in 1759 became a royal manufacturer. After the decline of the Meissen factory, it became the preeminent porcelain manufacturer in Europe. 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. |
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Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.498:1, 2-2008 |
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Record created | June 26, 2008 |
Record URL |
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