Oval box, the cover, sides and base enamelled in opalescent olive-green on engine-turned ground of horizontal lines scattered with pellets, the rims enamelled with white pearls and green foliage on sablé ground, the cover set in the centre with a miniature after Jean Petitot

3¹⁄₄ in. (82 mm.) wide

Mayer Carl Freiherr von Rothschild (1820 -1886), then by descent to
Laura-Thérèse von Rothschild (1847-1931), by descent to
Baron Henri de Rothschild (1872-1947).
Albert Marber (1900-1960), then by descent.

The Rothschild Archives, 'Verzeichniss der Freiherrlich Carl von Rothschildschen Sammlung’, Untermainkai No. 15. Date unknown [RAL 000/848/35/1].
L. Seelig, Eighteenth Century Hanau Gold Boxes, Silver Society of Canada Journal, 2015, p.46.

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Lot Essay

This snuff-box is recorded in the inventory of Mayer Carl Freiherr von Rothschild's collection at Untermainkai no. 15 in Frankfurt as no. 146 in the Gelber Saal - Kasten 2 [the yellow room, case no. 2] and described as 'Desgl. (Eine Gold. Email. Dose) Fond oliv. Ränder mit Relief-Email-Perlen, grün durchsetzt. Ovales Reliefportrait: Dame in blauen Kleide. Länge 8 cm. Breite 6 cm.' [Likewise (A gold. Enamel. Box) olive ground. Rims with interspersed relief enamel beads, green. Oval relief portrait: Lady in blue dress. Length 8 cm. Width 6 cm.].

The marks struck in this box were attributed by Lorenz Seelig (2015) to Esais Fernau and are recorded on a snuff-box in the Louvre Museum (OA 6841) with similar enamelled decoration. Esaias Fernau (circa 1734-1795) was one of the leading jewellers in Hanau and a founding member of the Zeichenakademie (Drawing academie) in 1764 together with the Souchay brothers, the Toussaint brothers, Esaias Obicker, Daniel Marchand, the Colin brothers, and G. Bocquet. This academy aimed to teach students to become engine-turners, enamellers, chasers and engravers. From 1762 to 1780 he was in partnership with another native of Hanau, the goldsmith and enameller Daniel Marchand (1733-1794), before setting up another company with enamel painter and jeweller Friedrich Wagenführer (1743-1818) later joined by his brother Johann Friedrich Fernau (active 1773-1789). The company traded as "E. Fernau et Comp.", "Gebrüder Fernau et Comp." or just "Gebrüder Fernau" (Brothers Fernau).

The miniature on this box is after one now in the Louvre Museum (INV 35715), attributed to the Swiss painter Jean Petitot (1607-1691). This miniature has been described as possibly being the portrait of Anne Lenclos known as Ninon de Lenclos (1620-1705), a French author and courtesan. However the portrait is more likely to be that of Margaret Lemon after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641). Van Dyck painted his mistress in 1638 with the same flower headpiece and her hand delicately holding the fabric of her dress. Margaret Lemon was the most painted commoner of the 17th century and her portraitremained popular throughout the 18th century and was often copied and used on snuff-boxes.

Portrait of Margaret Lemon (c. 1614-1645), circle of Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) © Christie's