Gold Boxes, Ceramics & Silver
Gold Boxes, Ceramics & Silver
A two-colour gold and enamel snuff box, Olof Ekman, Stockholm, 1786
Lot Closed
May 26, 12:03 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A two-colour gold and enamel snuff box, Olof Ekman, Stockholm
1786
of navette form, the lid inset with an oval enamel plaque painted en grisaille with Abraham and Isaac, the ground enamelled in translucent blue over wave and pellet engine-turning scattered with gold paillon stars, white enamel and gold cord borders, maker’s mark, fully hallmarked for 20ct gold, in plush-lined shagreen case
9cm., 3 1/2 in. wide
2
Herman Molvidson (1948);
sale Bukowski, Stockholm, autumn 2006
sale Bukowski, Stockholm, autumn 2006
Bo Bramsen, Nordiske Snusdåser, Copenhagen, 1965, no. 771, illustrated
Olof Ekman became master in Stockholm on 2 February 1774, presenting as his masterpiece ‘a gold box with enamelled figures and miniature painting’. He appears to have specialised in Galanteriewaren, as he is recorded as making snuff boxes, scent bottles, watch cases and badges. Little of his marked work seems to have survived although a gold and ivory box of 1776 is recorded in the National Museum, Stockholm, and a few examples in private hands of which the current example appears to be the most elaborate. He died at the age of 69 in 1805 (Erik Andrén et al, ‘Svenkst Silversmide 1520-1850, Stockholm, 1964, p. 129).