A three-colour gold snuff box

Louis Picasse, charge and discharge marks of Julien Alaterre, Paris, 1769



of oval form, the lid, sides and base with central oval medallions chased with trophies of the Arts and Sciences hung with grape and husk swags on a channelled polished ground within laurel borders

Louis Picasse was admitted to the Paris guild in 1745 as a goldsmith from the Gobelins, filling one of the vacant spaces. In 1748, he is recorded at cour neuve du Palais. In February 1750, he receives a warning when the gold mounts for a patch box were seized and found to be unmarked although of correct standard. It appears that his mark is most often found on mounts, quite early in his career (for example a gold-mounted mother of pearl and enamel box, 1747/8, British Rail Pension Fund, Sotheby’s Geneva, 15 May 1990, lot 22) although he is recorded at various addresses until 1785.