Snuffbox
1739 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Louis Métayer was one of the many goldsmiths from families who left France after the revocation of the Edit of Nantes in 1685. The Edict had provided religious tolerance for Huguenots (Protestants) living in Catholic France. Métayer and his family moved to Amsterdam, where he established himself as a goldsmith and became a citizen in 1730.
This box is chased with a scene from the Old Testament, of Rebecca at the well. Rebecca offers water to Abraham's servant and his camels. She is subsequently chosen to be the bride of Abraham's son, Isaac. The chasing may be by Louis Métayer's brother, Philippe, a leading chaser.
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.
This box is chased with a scene from the Old Testament, of Rebecca at the well. Rebecca offers water to Abraham's servant and his camels. She is subsequently chosen to be the bride of Abraham's son, Isaac. The chasing may be by Louis Métayer's brother, Philippe, a leading chaser.
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 | Chased gold |
Brief description | A cartouche shaped gold snuffbox, the cover set with a plaque chased with a scene of Rebecca at the Well bordered by scrolls |
Physical description | A cartouche shaped gold snuffbox, the cover set with a plaque chased with a scene of Rebecca at the Well bordered by scrolls |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Gallery label | Snuffbox with Rebecca at the well
1739
In the Bible, Rebecca offers water to Abraham’s
servant and his camels. She is chosen to be the bride
of Abraham’s son, Isaac.
Amsterdam, Netherlands;
mark of Louis Métayer (active 1730–74),
possibly chased by Philippe Métayer (1697–1763)
Chased gold
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.322-2008(2009) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: Kenneth Davis, London. |
Subjects depicted | |
Literary references |
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Summary | Louis Métayer was one of the many goldsmiths from families who left France after the revocation of the Edit of Nantes in 1685. The Edict had provided religious tolerance for Huguenots (Protestants) living in Catholic France. Métayer and his family moved to Amsterdam, where he established himself as a goldsmith and became a citizen in 1730. This box is chased with a scene from the Old Testament, of Rebecca at the well. Rebecca offers water to Abraham's servant and his camels. She is subsequently chosen to be the bride of Abraham's son, Isaac. The chasing may be by Louis Métayer's brother, Philippe, a leading chaser. 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 reference | Truman, Charles.The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, Vol. I. Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1991, cat. no. 138, pp. 400-1. ISBN.0875871623 |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.322-2008 |
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Record created | June 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
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