Snuffbox
ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The cover of this box is in the shape of a scallop shell, while the base is a different, stylized shell form. The gold mounts are also chased with shells. The stonecutting suggests it was made in Germany, however the gold chasing could possibly be English. Many goldsmiths working in London at the time were of German origin.
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 | Carved agate and chased gold |
Brief description | Gold-mounted Egyptian jasper snuffbox; probably Germany, ca.1750 |
Physical description | A gold-mounted agate snuffbox, the cover carved as a scallop shell. The mounts are chased with pilasters and rocaille. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | No marks |
Gallery label |
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Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: Sotheby's, London, lot. 164, December 13, 1976. S. J. Phillips, London, 1983. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | The cover of this box is in the shape of a scallop shell, while the base is a different, stylized shell form. The gold mounts are also chased with shells. The stonecutting suggests it was made in Germany, however the gold chasing could possibly be English. Many goldsmiths working in London at the time were of German origin. 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 |
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Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.398-2008 |
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Record created | June 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
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