Snuffbox
ca. 1740 (made), ca. 1650 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The scene on the lid shows a triton carrying the nymph Amphitrite. It derives from an engraving by Louis Surugue of a painting by Charles Antoine Coypel (1694-1752). The body of the snuffbox is made from an earlier enamelled watchcase decorated with scenes from Heliodorus' Aethiopica. Based on the illustrations produced for a French translation of the ancient Greek romance, the scenes tell the story of the love of Theagenes and Chariclea. The snuffbox was probably made in London about 1740; the watchcase in Blois, France, about 1650.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde amassed 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 amassed 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 and enamelled gold, with painted enamel |
Brief description | Circular, gold and enamelled snuffbox, formed from an enamelled watchcase; snuffbox: probably London, ca. 1740; watchcase: Blois, ca. 1650 |
Physical description | A circular gold and enamelled snuffbox, with the body formed from an earlier enamelled watchcase. It is painted with scenes of Theagenes and Chariclea from the tale Aethiepica by Heliodorus, which was translated into French in 1625 by Jean de Montlyard. The enamelled panels are mounted in gold chased with scrolls and flowers and the gold in turn has been enamelled with flowers and foliage in opaque and translucent colours. The hinged cover is similarly decorated and is set with an enamel plaque of Triton, son of Poseidon, carrying his mother Amphitrite, goddess of the sea. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | No marks |
Gallery label | 2. Watchcase, 1650, converted to a snuffbox, about 1740
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.319-2008 |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: Christie's, Geneva, November 12, 1985, lot 46. S.J. Phillips, London |
Production | The snuffbox was probably made in London about 1740; the watchcase was made in Blois, France, about 1650. |
Subjects depicted | |
Literary reference | Theagenes and Chariclea from Heliodorus' <i>Aethiopica</i> |
Summary | The scene on the lid shows a triton carrying the nymph Amphitrite. It derives from an engraving by Louis Surugue of a painting by Charles Antoine Coypel (1694-1752). The body of the snuffbox is made from an earlier enamelled watchcase decorated with scenes from Heliodorus' Aethiopica. Based on the illustrations produced for a French translation of the ancient Greek romance, the scenes tell the story of the love of Theagenes and Chariclea. The snuffbox was probably made in London about 1740; the watchcase in Blois, France, about 1650. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde amassed 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 |
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Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.319-2008 |
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Record created | June 27, 2008 |
Record URL |
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