Snuffbox
1821-1826 (marked)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Kirstenstein family, who abbreviated their signature to Kirstein, was based in Strasbourg in the early 18th century. When demand for monumental silver pieces dried up following the French Revolution and its subsequent wars, Jacques-Frédéric Kirstenstein (1765-1838) changed direction to create small decorative plaques to be applied to snuffboxes. He specialised in virtuoso chasing and repoussé techniques, as with this example with panels chased in high relief with extremely fine details. His work usually depicts hunting or military scenes, which attracted international acclaim and two gold medals at the Paris Exhibitions of 1810 and 1834.
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 | Gold, silver-gilt, enamel and glass |
| Brief description | Gold, enamel, glass, Geneva, 1821-6, Bautte et Moynier and Jacques Frederic Kirstenstein |
| Physical description | Large, rectangular gold snuffbox, set with five chased gold panels under slightly convex glass and bordered by silver-gilt filets, the cagework enamlled in black and white with flowers and foliage on a champlevé ground. The panel on the cover depicts the hunt of the boar and around the walls are a family of deer, a stag hunt, a stag brought down and the kill. The base is enamelled in black with a chevron pattern within a similar border to all the corners. The box has a projecting curved thumbpiece. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Sotheby's, Geneva, 18-19 November 1996, lot 276. S.J. Phillips, London, 1996. |
| Production | Mounts: maker's mark of Bautte & Moynier; Panels: signed by Kirstenstein (Kirstein). |
| Summary | The Kirstenstein family, who abbreviated their signature to Kirstein, was based in Strasbourg in the early 18th century. When demand for monumental silver pieces dried up following the French Revolution and its subsequent wars, Jacques-Frédéric Kirstenstein (1765-1838) changed direction to create small decorative plaques to be applied to snuffboxes. He specialised in virtuoso chasing and repoussé techniques, as with this example with panels chased in high relief with extremely fine details. His work usually depicts hunting or military scenes, which attracted international acclaim and two gold medals at the Paris Exhibitions of 1810 and 1834. 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 |
|
| Other numbers |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.458-2008 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
