Marie-Antoinette's fondness for lacquer prompted a fashion for lacquer mounted furniture and objects as well as the use of mediA resembling lacquer such as Vernis Martin and poudre d'écaille, used for this snuff-box as a vibrant colour ground set with piqué-posé and enamel plaques. A very similar snuff-box in blue lacquer with identical vari-colour gold mounts framing pastoral scenes was sold by Sotheby's, Zurich, 6 May 1980, lot 62. The maker's mark was hesitantly identified as IP and was dated of the same period 1756-1752 suggesting that it was also the work of Mathieu Philippe.

The flange is engraved with 'Richard rue St Honoré' probably for a marchand-mercier not identified but working on the rue Saint-Honoré where the Parisian marchands-merciers congregated. Indeed after 1776 French goldsmith's work was permitted to be sold by non-members of the guild suggesting that this box was probably retailed by 'Richard' after that date.