Tabatière en or sertie de diamants au chiffre de Charles X , A jewelled gold Royal Presentation snuff box

Pierre-André Montauban, Paris, bear's head 3e titre and 3e titre et grosse garantie for 1809-1819, cipher circa 1824, later French control marks



rectangular, the lid applied with the crowned cipher of Charles X, King of France and Navarre (1757-1836, reigned 1824-1830), in rose-cut diamonds on a sablé ground within a blue enamel frame, the border chased with anthemion within curved laurel branches, the sides and base diaper engine-turned within leafy borders, the interior of the lid inscribed: Donnée par le Roi

Excellent, crisp condition apart from four stones lacking in the crown. The lid pins are slightly protruding, having been out. The interior of the lid with three dimples.
"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."

Pierre-André Montauban was born in Paris on 22 September 1763 but is not recorded as working there until 1800 when he entered a post-revolutionary mark as bijoutier; garnisseur from 30 quai des Orfèvres. As garnisseur, he specialised in mounting miniatures or other types of panel in gold or more often, gold-lined tortoiseshell boxes.

In common with the few remaining gold box makers at this date, he appears to have worked both on his own account and as a supplier of boxes to retailers such as Gibert, particularly to produce presentation boxes first for the Imperial and then after the Restoration, the Royal families.  No boxes with Montauban's maker's mark are to be found with post-1819 Paris marks so it is to be presumed that he either died or retired before then.

It is not unusual for presentation boxes to be used or re-used somewhat later than the date they were made: a gold and enamel box inset with a miniature of Charles X by Daniel Saint, is struck with maker's mark of A.J.M. Vachette with the same control marks (bear's head 3e titre and 3e titre et garantie for 1809-1819) as on the present box (Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, vol.II, Los Angeles, 1999, no. 10, p.27). A gold box, formerly in the Fribourg Collection, maker's mark of Gabriel-Raoul Morel and retailed by Petit-Jean & Ouizille, is applied with an identical rose diamond cipher for Charles X and is inscribed on the interior: Donnée par le Roi / 1827 (Clare Le Corbeiller, European and American Snuff Boxes 1730-1830, London, 1966, no. 232)