Oval box, the cover, sides and base set with panels of opaque green enamel, chased at intervals with gold flowerheads and within reeded borders and white enamel frames, each panel set with an oval grisaille miniature depicting a classical scene, within chased husk and entrelac gold borders with foliate column pilasters, the cover and base with white enamel taille d'épargne outer borders
3¹⁄₄ in. (84 mm.) wide

Mayer Carl Freiherr von Rothschild (1820 -1886), by descent to
Laura-Thérèse von Rothschild (1847-1931), by descent to
Baron Henri de Rothschild (1872-1947).
J. C. Wharry; Christie's, London, 25 February 1944 lot 96.
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].

Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

This snuff-box is recorded in the inventory of Mayer Carl von Rothschild house in Frankfurt on the Untermainkai in the Yellow Room (Gelb Saal) as 'Ovale gold. emaill. Dose, Fond grün mit ausgesparten Goldrosetten und sechs Grisaille-Emaillen, Lange 8¹⁄₂ cm., Breite 6 cm.' [Oval gold. enamel. Box, green background with recessed gold rosettes and six grisaille enamels, length 8¹⁄₂ cm., width 6 cm.]

Charles Le Bastier embraced early on the fashion for miniatures painted en grisaille sometimes refers to as 'en camaieu' which had started to appear on gold boxes in the 1760s following the growing interest in archaeological excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The earliest recorded examples of such miniatures in the 1760s are those of Melle Duplessis often featuring cherubs in the taste of François Boucher. The six grisaille scenes set on this box are reminiscent of frescoes of Roman daily life scenes showing a woman getting dressed, one playing the lyre or a piper. Their simplicity of design are very much in the style of the frescoes featured in Pompeii and surrounding cities.