THE COLLECTION OF ADOLPHUS ANDREWS, JR. AND EMILY TAYLOR ANDREWS
A LOUIS XVI ENAMELED GOLD SNUFF BOX
MARK OF JOSEPH-ETIENNE BLERZY, PARIS, 1781-1782
Important information about this lot
Price Realised USD 21,420
Estimate
USD 12,000 - USD 18,000
Estimates do not reflect the final hammer price and do not include buyer's premium, any applicable taxes or artist's resale right. Please see the Conditions of Sale for full details.
A Louis XVI snuff-box by L. Lacarrière of 1783-1784, set with an identical enamel miniature, is illustrated in A. Kenneth Snowman, Eighteenth Century Gold Boxes of Europe, London, 1966, color pl. 423. Mérope is a five act tragedy written by Voltaire (1694-1778) which premiered in 1743 before appearing in print in 1744. The play is a reworking of an Italian tragedy from 1713, and tells the story of the dowager queen Mérope. While mourning her murdered husband, Mérope blames newcomer to court Egisthe for murdering her son, when he is in fact her long-lost son. Egisthe eventually kills the tyrannical usurper Polyphonte, who had killed his father, and crowns his mother Mérope as queen.
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Condition report
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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
Overall with some minor wear, tiny scratches, and a few tiny losses to the enamel, such as to the green enamel bands at the top and bottom of the pilasters on the sides, with a small area of restoration to the blue enamel on the cover to the upper left of the medallion, the plaque to the cover re-attached at some point, probably when the enamel was restored, the underside with a few additional scratches, the gold plate to the inside of the cover slightly pushed in at the sides and with some minor bends, marks very clear, with an associated custom red velvet stand and blue leather box, generally good condition.
13⁄8 in. (3.5 cm.) high, 25⁄8 in. (6.7 cm.) wide
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Lot 26Sale 23287
MARK OF JOSEPH-ETIENNE BLERZY, PARIS, 1781-1782A LOUIS XVI ENAMELED GOLD SNUFF BOXEstimate: USD 12,000 - 18,000
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