A fine Dutch silver and mother-of-pearl box, Cornelis Rudolf Stolting, Amsterdam, 1786

shaped octagonal, plain with beaded borders,the cover inlaid with a mother-of-pearl plate, and carved with Flora seated in a flowering garden, and Zephyr kneeling before her with butterfly wings, attended to by putti, surrounded by a foliate and rocaille border, signed I.B. Barckhuysen fecit, fully marked at the base

Clearly marked and signed. Overall in very good condition. No repairs visible. Mother-of-pearl in good condition. The silver border fitting the mother-of-pearl is uneven.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Jan Bernard Barckhuysen (1684-1760) was appointed assistant seal-engraver in the Dutch city of Harderwijk in 1717. He started with the engraving of mother-of-pearl and soon became skilled at carving mythological, liturgical and allegorical subjects. These mother-of-pearl plates are usually created separately and later fitted into a silver object. This particular plate was fitted into the box when Barckhuysen had already died. It is possible that Barckhuysen made this plate after an existing engraving as he had already done so before. Unfortunately no record has been found of such an existing engraving.

The image shows Zephyr and Flora and was a popular image in the eighteenth century. 

On the left side Flora is seated with an abundance of flowers on her lap. Above her, two putti are helping her with the flowers. Zephyr, with his butterfly wings, is sitting on a cloud. This was the usual way to portray Zephyr, as he was the god of the westerly wind. On the right side another putto is represented next to an antique vase. In the background a garden is visible with some trees and a small lake. The reflection of the trees is mirrored in the lake. Most of the representation is done in relief, only the garden is engraved. The plate is signed on the below right; I. B. Barkhuys . fecit.

The reverse side of the plate is engraved with the arms of LULOFS, of Guelders and Overyseel, and a mirror monogram BHL

In Parelmoer kunstenaars in de 18e eeuw, W.H. van Seters mentions that the box offered here was in the trade collection of Einstein, London, 1954. Then the Dutch Collection Bijdorp, Loenen aan de Vecht, 1970, Mak van Waay, Amsterdam,18th December 1970, lotnumber 753, later sold by Sotheby's Amsterdam, 28th October 1975, lotnumber 180. A similar box with a mother-of- pearl cover by Barckhuysen can be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Literature: W.H. van Seters, Parelmoerkunstenaars in de 18e eeuw, Het werk van J. B. Barckhuysen, J. C. Konsé en C. la Motte, Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek, deel 17 1966, pp.252-254. 
J. Verbeek, J. B. Barckhuysen (ca. 1648-1760), parelmoersnijder, Tijdschrift Antiek november 1972, 277-86.