Description
This cartouche-shaped snuffbox
comprises eight panels of black marble encrusted with bouquets of
hardstone flowers. The panels are bordered by gold chased
with scrolls, shells and foliage.
Commentary
The decoration of this box place it within the group of boxes associated
with Frederick II, the Great of Prussia. While it is not set with
diamonds, as are many others within this group, its encrusted hardstone
flowers are paralleled by those on the rather more lushly decorated
box in the Louvre, Paris, and the engraved gold work is strikingly
similar to that of the chrysoprase and mother-of-pearl boxes in
the Gilbert Collection and also featured in this section of the
website.
Glossaries
cartouche-shaped - in
the shape of curled paper or parchment scrolls chase - to decorate a metal surface using a hammer
and sharp tool
the
Gilbert silver