Noël Hardivilliers (fl. 1729-1771) was one of the greatest gold box makers of the Louis XV era. He began his career in the tradition of sumptuary laws, which regulated the use of precious metals, creating snuff boxes that combined different materials such as lacquer or hard stone. The relaxation of these laws, combined with the explosion of luxury under Louis XV, resulted in a fashion for snuff boxes made entirely of gold, often in several colors.
Apprenticed to Jean Chéret and François-Siméon Barré, Hardivilliers registered his hallmark in 1729 and worked on the Pont au Change until his retirement in 1771. Hardivilliers was not only a creative but also a prolific maker, purchasing over 183 kg of gold between 1750 and 1771.