Lot Closed
June 27, 12:24 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
A gold and enamel presentation snuff box, Charles Magnin, Geneva, 1843,
of unusual cartouche shape, the lid enamelled with a young couple in late eighteenth century Neapolitan dress feeding their young child with grapes, against a finely-reeded gold background engraved with classical ruins and an Italian landscape with Mount Vesuvius in the background, in a scrolling gold frame accentuated by black enamel hatching, the sides formed of protruding panels with black enamel frames around geometrical sunflower patterns, the engine-turned base centred with a classical mask picked out in black enamel, chased gold acanthus and black enamel border, small thumbpiece, the rim inscribed with a presentation inscription reading: Souvenir de son Altesse Imperiale La Grande Duchesse Anna de Russie a Madame L. Franconi Geneve Le 20 Aout 1843, maker’s mark, French hibou control mark, in the original silk and velvet lined green leather presentation case,
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Tabatière en or et émail, Charles Magnin, Genève, 1843,
de forme cartouche inhabituelle, le couvercle émaillé d'un jeune couple en costume napolitain de la fin du XVIIIe siècle nourrissant leur jeune enfant avec des raisins, sur un fond d'or finement rehaussé gravé de ruines classiques et d'un paysage napolitain avec le mont Vésuve à l'arrière-plan, dans un cadre en or à volutes accentué par des hachures d'émail noir, les côtés formés de panneaux en saillie avec des cadres en émail noir autour de motifs géométriques de tournesols, la base guillochée centrée d'un masque souligné d'émail noir, d'acanthes en or ciselé et d'une bordure en émail noir, d'une petit appui-pouce, le bord portant une inscription : Souvenir de son Altesse Imperiale La Grande Duchesse Anna de Russie a Madame L. Franconi Geneve Le 20 Aout 1843, poinçon d'orfèvre, poinçon de contrôle français (hibou), dans son écrin d'origine en galuchat doublé de soie et de velours,
7.2 cm., 2 7/8 in. wide; overall weight 52.6 grams
For an unmarked gold and enamel box of similar date, also enamelled with figures in Neapolitan dress, see Sotheby’s Geneva, 15 November 2022, lot 1257; another example, by the same maker as the present lot, is enamelled with dancers in similar fancy dress and was sold Sotheby’s New York, 15 April 2016, lot 106.
According to the presentation inscription, the present lot was presented by the Grand Duchess Anna to Madame Franconi in 1843. Born as the eighth child of Paul I, Emperor of Russia and Empress Maria Feodorovna, Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna (1795–1865) married Prince William of Orange in 1816, soon to be King William II.
Even among the upper echelons of society at court, she was renowned for her unmatched ‘royal alure’ due to her strict maintenance of court etiquette and customs. A magnificent collection of jewels and artworks doubtlessly contributed to that grandeur, although she unfortunately had to sell some of these treasures later on to cover her husband's large gambling debts upon his death. Despite this misfortune, the Grand Duchess remained rather involved in the public sphere throughout her life, establishing several charities including hospitals, orphanages and schools. After her death in 1865, the Dutch municipality of Anna Paulowna was named after her, and so was the Paulownia tree, also known as ‘the Empress tree.’
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