Snuffbox
ca. 1750 (made), 1850-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The simplicity of the goldsmith's work makes the dating of this snuffbox difficult, however the cut and setting of the stones in the floral thumbpiece (used to open the box) suggest that it dates from the second half of the 19th century. The box was made to provide a setting for the earlier porcelain plaque, produced at Meissen around 1750.
Snuffboxes made of porcelain followed the shapes of those made in gold and hardstones. Painted scenes or portraits ornamented the sides, covers and interiors. Changing forms and decoration were important, as these fashion accessories might be chosen to match the season or a particular costume. Most European (though rarely English) porcelain factories made snuffboxes. The largest producer was Meissen in Germany, which manufactured vast quantities of boxes from about 1735-65. A price list of 1765 mentions 11 varieties, the least expensive painted with flowers.
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.
Snuffboxes made of porcelain followed the shapes of those made in gold and hardstones. Painted scenes or portraits ornamented the sides, covers and interiors. Changing forms and decoration were important, as these fashion accessories might be chosen to match the season or a particular costume. Most European (though rarely English) porcelain factories made snuffboxes. The largest producer was Meissen in Germany, which manufactured vast quantities of boxes from about 1735-65. A price list of 1765 mentions 11 varieties, the least expensive painted with flowers.
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 | Gold, hard-paste porcelain, rubies, emeralds and diamonds |
Brief description | Gold set with a Meissen porcelain plaque, Germany, ca.1750, the gold box probably German ca. 1850-1900 |
Physical description | Rectangular gold snuffbox with plain bombe walls and plain base, the cover set with a hard-paste porcelain plaque, painted on the outside with two shepherdesses and a shepherd in a landscape, and on the inside with the bath of Venus, within a reeded border. The scrolling floral thumbpiece is set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Mark for gold imported from countries without Customs Conventions with France, June 1, 1893 onwards (On the left bezel) |
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 Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1996 |
Production | The box probably German 1850-1900, the porcelain plaque by Meissen ca. 1750 |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | The simplicity of the goldsmith's work makes the dating of this snuffbox difficult, however the cut and setting of the stones in the floral thumbpiece (used to open the box) suggest that it dates from the second half of the 19th century. The box was made to provide a setting for the earlier porcelain plaque, produced at Meissen around 1750. Snuffboxes made of porcelain followed the shapes of those made in gold and hardstones. Painted scenes or portraits ornamented the sides, covers and interiors. Changing forms and decoration were important, as these fashion accessories might be chosen to match the season or a particular costume. Most European (though rarely English) porcelain factories made snuffboxes. The largest producer was Meissen in Germany, which manufactured vast quantities of boxes from about 1735-65. A price list of 1765 mentions 11 varieties, the least expensive painted with flowers. 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, volume II, London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd., 1999, cat. no. 34, p. 58. ISBN.0856675210 |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.524-2008 |
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Record created | June 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
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