Snuffbox
ca.1765 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This box has been attributed to goldsmith Johann Christian Neuber (active 1762-1808). Though it is an unusual product for Neuber, it is similar to another documented example with a chimney sweep figure (see Kugel ed., Gold Jasper and Carnelian, Johanna Christian Neuber at the Saxon Court, 2012, cat. 26, p.137). The oval box is shaped from one piece of chalcedony. Some of the stones have been set with red and green tinted adhesives to create colourful effects, for example, the green grass.
Saxony was rich in minerals and hardstones, leading to a blossoming of lapidary (polished stone) work. The city of Dresden was home to a treasury which was later extended by Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony and King of Poland (ruled 1694-1733). This famous Green Vault (as it was known) encouraged the production of luxury objects. It is said that chimney sweeps, such as the one depicted on this box, were widely considered a symbol of good luck.
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. Arthur recognised Neuber’s exquisite technical skill and acquired seven of his iconic snuffboxes in total.
Saxony was rich in minerals and hardstones, leading to a blossoming of lapidary (polished stone) work. The city of Dresden was home to a treasury which was later extended by Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony and King of Poland (ruled 1694-1733). This famous Green Vault (as it was known) encouraged the production of luxury objects. It is said that chimney sweeps, such as the one depicted on this box, were widely considered a symbol of good luck.
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. Arthur recognised Neuber’s exquisite technical skill and acquired seven of his iconic snuffboxes in total.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Gold mounts, chalcedony, banded agate, onyx, sard, red and green cements, gold foil |
Brief description | Snuffbox, gold mounts, carved chalcedony inlaid with hardstones, attributed to Johann Christian Neuber, Dresden, ca.1765 |
Physical description | Oval chalcedony snuffbox, the cover inlaid with an oval reserve of banded agate enclosing an image of a chimney-sweep in various hardstones including chalcedony, onyx and sard, holding a ladder and a brush, standing on grass against a trellis of red stone, heightened with colour. Each enclosed lozenge of chalcedony has bevelled edges and is bordered by a frieze of banded agate; the walls and base have similar trellis and border decoration, mounted in gold chased with an osier pattern, and the box has a flaring floral thumbpiece. |
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, 21 June 1965, lot. 155 Wartski, London. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This box has been attributed to goldsmith Johann Christian Neuber (active 1762-1808). Though it is an unusual product for Neuber, it is similar to another documented example with a chimney sweep figure (see Kugel ed., Gold Jasper and Carnelian, Johanna Christian Neuber at the Saxon Court, 2012, cat. 26, p.137). The oval box is shaped from one piece of chalcedony. Some of the stones have been set with red and green tinted adhesives to create colourful effects, for example, the green grass. Saxony was rich in minerals and hardstones, leading to a blossoming of lapidary (polished stone) work. The city of Dresden was home to a treasury which was later extended by Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony and King of Poland (ruled 1694-1733). This famous Green Vault (as it was known) encouraged the production of luxury objects. It is said that chimney sweeps, such as the one depicted on this box, were widely considered a symbol of good luck. 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. Arthur recognised Neuber’s exquisite technical skill and acquired seven of his iconic snuffboxes in total. |
Bibliographic references |
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Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.418-2008 |
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Record created | June 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
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