bonbonnière en verre à montures d'or de deux tons, Paris, 1785, ornée d'une miniature signée van Blarenberghe

ronde, les montures en or de deux tons en forme de corde torsadée, le couvercle serti postérieurement d'une miniature à la gouache représentant peut-être la famille de Darius devant Alexandre attribuée à Louis-Nicolas van Blarenberghe, signée, poinçon de maître peu lisible, le différent une étoile, poinçon de charge et décharge d'Henri Clavel



circular, with two-colour ropetwist mounts, the lid later inset within a further mount with a gouache miniature, perhaps depicting the family of Darius before Alexander, attributed to Louis-Nicolas van Blarenberghe, signed, maker's mark unclear, différent a star, charge and discharge marks of Henri Clavel

Charming and unusual miniature. The mounts would benefit from professional cleaning.
"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.
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The mythogical subject of this miniature is uncommon for the van Blarenberghes and their circle, specialising usually in lively inhabited views and genre scenes. Indeed most of the few mythological or allegorical pieces among their works were either on a larger scale or were evidently sketches for interior decoration. A gold snuff box inset with six van Blarenberghe gouaches of the Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite, belonging to the Baronne de Rothschild, was displayed at the Petit Palais during the 1900 Exposition universelle (Monique Maillet-Chassagne & Irène de Château-Thierry, Catalogue raisonné des œuvres des Van Blarenberghe 1680-1826, Paris, 2004, p. 377, 4-002-3/8). A further set of 6 mythological miniatures by Louis-Nicolas van Blarenberghe are to be found on a snuff box sold at Christie's (28 November 2006, lot 54); the subjects being drawn from various sources. There has been some discussion as to the identification of the subject of the present miniature which appears to represent the farewell of Hector to Andromache and Astyanax but is in fact very close in construction to Charles le Brun's Family of Darius before Alexander.