A group of four gold-mounted bloodstone objects of vertu, English, mid 18th century and later

VAT reduced rate

Auction Closed

May 25, 03:15 PM GMT

Estimate

6,000 - 8,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property of an Italian private collection

A group of four gold-mounted bloodstone objects of vertu, English, mid 18th century and later

comprising a jewelled gold-mounted etui, London, circa 1760, of slightly tapering form with later faceted sides, the mounts decorated with chased scrollwork, partially set with rose-cut diamonds, maker’s mark JB or IB crowned, 10.6 cm, 4 1/4 in. high; a tapering flattened bloodstone etui with chased gold openwork including flowers and birds resting on scrollwork, late 19^th century, apparently unmarked, 9.2 cm., 3 5/8 in. high; the third, a rectangular gold-mounted bloodstone snuff box, the chased gold scrollwork mounts enclosing later hardstone panels, wavy thumbpiece, apparently unmarked, 6cm., 2 3/8 in. wide; the fourth, an oval gold cagework bonbonnière, German or English, the reeded lid rim with a bow-shaped thumbpiece centred with a lion's mask, small scroll decoration to the front of footrim, 6 cm., 2 3/8 in. wide

6cm., 2⅜in. to 10.6cm., 4¼in. wide

From April 1697, the surviving registers of the Goldsmiths' Hall recorded the maker's mark of goldsmiths in two volumes, one for largeworkers and one for smallworkers, running concurrently. The volume for smallworkers from 1738 until 1758 has long been missing, which has caused many problems for the identification of indivdual makers. Much work has been done under the aegis of David Beasley at the Goldsmith's Hall to fill in the gaps (see John Culme, 'Trade of fancy', The Silver Society Journal, autumn 2000, p. 98) but certain marks still remain unidentified, such as the one on the present gold-mounted hardstone etui, mostly due to the high number of suitable candidates. JB, IB or TB are very common initials and there are a few recorded examples of this maker's work. These include another rectangular box chased with Jason presenting the Golden Fleece to Pelias, dated 1759 (Sotheby's New York, 15 April 2010, lot 272), a gold box chased with the same subject, but dated 1761, sold Sotheby's London, 3 July 2012, lot 169, and another chased example representing Aeneas consulting the Cumaean Sibyl, sold Christie's London, 8 December 2011, lot 123. But this maker seems to not have worked exclusively in chased gold, as a gold and basse-taille enamel snuff box (sold Christies, 3 June 2014, lot 242), and the present gold and hardstone etui demonstrate.