boîte en vermeil, probablement par François Midy, Paris, 1729-1730

le couvercle ciselé de Vénus et Cupidon dans un jardin antique, le dessous d'Eros entre l'amour et la luxure, les bordures et la bâte en panneaux ornés de putti et paniers de fleurs intercalés de pans lobés polis (étiquette PJB 82)



the lid chased with Venus and Cupid, the base with Cupid between love and lust, the borders and sides chased with further putti and baskets of flowers between polished lobes and shells, charge and discharge marks of Jacques Cottin, label: PJB 82

Sotheby's Londres, 5 juillet 1982, lot 148.

some wear commensurate with age overall,
"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."

Curiously the Jourdan-Barry Collection possessed two virtually identical silver-gilt snuff boxes, most probably made by the same Parisian maker, François Midy, in succeeding years. The present example is from 1729/30 and the other  from 1730/31 (P. Fuhring, M. Bimbenet-Privat, A. Kugel, Orfèvrerie française, La Collection Jourdan-Barry, vols. I & II, no. 145). There are minor differences to the lid including the addition of a scratched date: 1786 on the latter box; the bases appear to differ. For a gold snuff box chased with gardening trophies within similar wide borders, also apparently François Midy, Paris, 1729/30, see Sotheby's London, 1 June 2006, lot 47.

François Midy entered his mark, FM a sun below, from the cour neuve du Palais, on 26 July 1719, sponsored by Simon Auffroy. He is recorded as working at various addresses, sponsoring Antoine Aubert in 1735 and Nicolas Touraillon in 1739. In 1740,then working on the pont Notre-Dame,  the gardes  seized une moulure de couvercle de tabatière en or from him as being of insufficient standard. For this he was fined 10 louis but was permitted to continue working. On 7 August 1763, Midy is recorded as having died at the same address and was subsequently buried at the Madeleine on the Ile de la Cité.