Oval, decorated overall with alternating bellflower garlands and fluting within borders of acanthus, the cover and underside with trophies of love within cartouches, marked on interior cover, base, and side with date letter I, maker's mark, and charge mark for Julien Alaterre, 1768- 1775, the flange with decharge mark, further marked twice with later control mark, and engraved DU PETIT DUNKERKE and with number 766
2³⁄₄ in. (7 cm.) long
3 oz. (93 gr.)

Property from the Collection of the Late Benjamin and Minna Reeves; Sotheby's, New York, 10 June, 1992, lot 40.

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Lot Essay

The box offered here was retailed by Charles Raymond Granchez, the celebrated marchand mercier, at his shop 'Au Petit Dunkerke' which flourished between 1767 and 1787 at 3 quai de Conti at the corner of the rue Dauphine. Interestingly, the present lot is engraved Du Petit Dunkerke, which is a misspelling of the name of the store. This same misspelling can be seen on another snuff box by Pierre-François Mathis de Beaulieu sold at Christie's, London, 5 December 2017, lot 10. For more on Granchez and 'Au Petit Dunkerke' see C. Sargentson, Merchants and Luxury Markets, London, 1996, pp. 119-127.