Snuffbox
ca. 1780 (made)
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This snuffbox is one of the rare examples on which the enamel decoration is signed. The painted enamel scenes are typical of the European taste from the 1760s to 1780s. In the 1760s, Schindler decorated several boxes and at least one étui with subjects after the painter David Teniers the Younger. Schindler's later enamels, of which this is an example, were often executed 'en grisaille' (monochrome) to resemble a cameo, and sometimes had their source in paintings by François Boucher. Enamellers also imitated natural materials: Here the green enamel imitates marble and the blue imitates a grey-banded agate.
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
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Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Chased varicoloured-gold and enamel |
Brief description | Varicoloured-gold and enamel snuffbox; box: Pierre Michel Colas, Vienna, ca.1780; enamels: Philipp Ernst Schindler II, Vienna, ca.1780 |
Physical description | An oval, varicoloured-gold and enamel snuffbox, the cover, walls and base painted with six reserves of grisaille figures, framed in gold. |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Gallery label | Snuffbox with Venus, Mars and Cupid
About 1780
Vienna, Austria; Pierre Michel Colas (active 1763–81),
enamelled by Philipp Ernst Schindler II (1723–93)
Enamelled gold
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.364-2008(2009) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1983. Le Grand Frisson Exhibition RF.2005/788 |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This snuffbox is one of the rare examples on which the enamel decoration is signed. The painted enamel scenes are typical of the European taste from the 1760s to 1780s. In the 1760s, Schindler decorated several boxes and at least one étui with subjects after the painter David Teniers the Younger. Schindler's later enamels, of which this is an example, were often executed 'en grisaille' (monochrome) to resemble a cameo, and sometimes had their source in paintings by François Boucher. Enamellers also imitated natural materials: Here the green enamel imitates marble and the blue imitates a grey-banded agate. 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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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.364-2008 |
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Record created | June 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
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