Snuffbox
1758 (painted), 1800-1900 (made)
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Though little is known about Hamelin, he is considered to be one of the finest eighteenth century flower painters in enamel. The octagonal shape of these plaques, painted in Paris in 1758, suggest that they were originally intended for a similarly shaped box, or were originally set in one and then subsequently removed.
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 | Enamelled copper with pastes |
| Brief description | Snuffbox with floral miniatures. Gold, enamel. Probably Swiss. Plaques by Hamelin, Paris. Plaques: 1758. Box: 19th century |
| Physical description | Rectangular gold snuffbox, comprising six panels of gold, engine turned and enamelled in translucent grey. Each panel set with a plaque painted with flowers on marble ledges, the plaque on the cover signed Hamelin 1758. Each plaque framed by gold with bright-cut decoration, the whole mounted a cage in gold chased and and engraved with ribbons and stylised flowers. |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Lucien Surmont, Hotel Drouot, Paris, lot 48 (bought for 18,100 francs by Gradt), 13/05/1912. Founes, Paris, 1924. Christie's, Geneva, lot 225, 19/05/1998. D. S. Lavender, London. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Though little is known about Hamelin, he is considered to be one of the finest eighteenth century flower painters in enamel. The octagonal shape of these plaques, painted in Paris in 1758, suggest that they were originally intended for a similarly shaped box, or were originally set in one and then subsequently removed. 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.369-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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