Oval box, the cover, sides and base set with panels of opaque Pompadour pink enamel, the cover centred with an oval enamel miniature depicting two lovers in a mountainous landscape, the sides and base each set with a roundel enamelled with clusters of winter branches painted en camaïeu on an opalescent oyster-pink ground within white enamel frames, with opalescent bead and trailing green enamel foliate outer sablé borders and pilasters

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].

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Lot Essay

This snuff-box is listed as no. 382 in the inventory of Mayer Carl Freiherr von Rothschild held in the Rothschild archives and was located in the Speise-Saal (dining room) in Untermainkai No 15, described as 'Ovale gold Dose. Fond Rosa-Opak, Relief Emailränder mit perlen, Deckel ovale Emaille: Hirt und Hirtin. Durchmesser. 8 x 5¹⁄₂ cm.'.[Oval gold box. Fond rose opaque, enamelled in relief on the rims with pearls, oval enamel on the lid: shepherd and shepherdess.]

Joseph-Etienne Blerzy was apprenticed in 1750 to Francois-Joachim Aubert and received his mastership in 1768. He was a successful and prolific goldsmith who produced often highly colourful and decorative boxes and was still working when he died in 1806 at 3 rue du Coq-St Honoré. This snuff-box is typical of Blerzy's work between 1775 and 1791 with its use of bright and distinctively coloured enamelled ground offset by the opalescent enamel pearl borders which simulate seed pearls and the opalescent silhouetted winter branches painted en camaïeu.