Description
This snuffbox is made from seventeen panels of bloodstone
mounted in a cagework of gold, set with a profusion of diamonds,
some coloured yellow and others foiled.
The cover is set with a vase in coloured glass in which is set a
bouquet of stylized flowers in emeralds, rubies, diamonds and coloured
glass, within a border of diamonds set in gold and sprigs of flowers
in glass. The walls and base are set with sprays of flowers in coloured
stones and glass.
Commentary
This box forms part of the group
of snuffboxes associated with Frederick II, the Great of Prussia.
It was made in Berlin around 1775 and is very similar to the designs
of Jean Guillaume George Kruger. The use of coloured glass is an
interesting aspect of this box and has caused some speculation that
there might have been a Venetian connection to its making, although
Germany was at the forefront of glass technology at this time, with
enamel glass being produced at Meissen and other German porcelain
and glass centres.
Glossaries
bloodstone - a dark green
form of silica quartz dotted with bright red spots of iron oxide,
also known as heliotrope because of the way polished stones appear
to reflect the sun foiled - placing metal foil behind gemstones to
reflect the light
the
Gilbert silver