Snuffbox
1828-1829 (made), ca.1825 (made)
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A Sibyl was a woman who possessed powers of prophecy. The Sibyl's temple at Tivoli, depicted on the cover of this box, was not far from Rome, and popular with tourists interested in antiquity. It was a subject used frequently in mosaics designed for tourist souvenirs. This particular view is unusual however, as it takes a perspective which shows only three of the temple's columns.
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 | Micromosaic, partially gilded silver. |
| Brief description | Silver, parcel-gilt, the lid mounted with a micromosaic panel, London hallmarks for 1828-9, mark of Rawlings and Summers |
| Physical description | Rectangular silver box, the cover set with a micromosaic of the temple of the Sibyl at Tivoli - a round ruined temple with three columns visible, behind it a lower building with a tower, and a view of distant hills. There is a figure in the foreground. The box is lined with silver-gilt. |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Carrington & Co. Ltd., London, 1974. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | A Sibyl was a woman who possessed powers of prophecy. The Sibyl's temple at Tivoli, depicted on the cover of this box, was not far from Rome, and popular with tourists interested in antiquity. It was a subject used frequently in mosaics designed for tourist souvenirs. This particular view is unusual however, as it takes a perspective which shows only three of the temple's columns. 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.941-2008 |
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| Record created | June 20, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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