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Presented to the son of English doctor Thomas Dimsdale by Russian empress Catherine the Great in gratitude for his inoculation of the empress and her son, Grand Duke Paul, against smallpox. Possibly Russia, c. 1768, gold, silver, diamonds, foil 8.7x7.0x4.2cm. Thomas Dimsdale (1712-1800), an English doctor and advocate of the practice of inoculation against smallpox, was summoned by the Russian ambassador to advise Catherine II during the Russian smallpox epidemic of 1768. So impressed was Catherine by the success of the potentially dangerous treatment that Thomas was created a Baron of the Russian Empire, a councillor of state and personal physician to the empress, and awarded a princely sum of £10,000 plus an annuity and works of art. His son, Nathaniel was presented with this magnificent diamond-encrusted, varicoloured-gold snuffbox, decorated with figures in neo-classical landscapes by Paul 'as a testimony of his regard'. The Gilbert Collection is also fortunately endowed with a miniature portrait of Thomas, 1st Baron Dimsdale (1996.819) - enamelled by Henry Bone in 1800 after Baron Dimsdale's return to England, and in the final year of his life. Description A rectangular, jewelled, varicoloured-gold snuffbox, the cover with a chased architectural caprice with diamonds, the sides with figures in classical landscape. Such a wealth of diamonds suggests a Russian origin, although the goldsmith's work is similar in style to Viennese craftsmanship. Russia's opulent court attracted many immigrant craftsmen and the snuffbox reflects her high levels of cultural, scientific and political exchange with Britain and Europe at this time. Note - More snuffboxes, including some made for Frederick the Great, can be found in the gold boxes section. |
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