Oval with Greek key borders, the cover and underside decorated with a flowering vase and basket of flowers within a suspended ribbon-tied laurel cartouche flanked by fluting, the sides with alternating acanthus leaves and flowerheads within a scrolling border, marked on interior cover, base, and side with date letter Z, maker's mark, and charge mark for Jean-Jacques Prevost, 1762-1768, the flange with decharge mark
2³⁄₈ in. (6 cm.) long
3 oz. 2 dwt. (96 gr.)

Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 28 April 1992, lot 115.

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Lot Essay

Pierre-Nicolas Queneulle de Romesnil is described in the Almanach as working au Louis d'Or on rue St. Louis. His importance is shown by the fact that in 1769 he negotiated with the Prévôt des marchands to fashion a gold sword to be give by the city to the young Comte d'Artois (H. Nocq, Le Poinçon de Paris, vol. III, Paris, 1926, p. 371). The rich design of the present box is inspired by the drawings for snuff boxes by Pierre Moreau (1722-1798), a contemporary of Queneulle de Romesnil (see K. Snowman, Eighteen Century Gold Boxes of Europe, London, 1966, ills. 87-92).