tabatière en argent par Pierre Croissant, Paris, 1737-1738

de forme cartouche, le couvercle et le dessous ciselé dans un décor rocaille de la Toilette de Vénus et d'Actéon, la bâte gravée de vues de ville, l'intérieur en vermeil (étiquette PJB 140)



of cartouche form, the lid and base chased with rocaille enclosing the Toilet of Venus and Actaeon petting his hound, the sides engraved with townscapes, interior gilt,  label PJB 140

hinge repaired, thumbpiece worn, generally slight wear overall, but still full of charm. charge and discharge marks of Louis Robin
"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."

In 1721 Pierre Croissant was one of the 5 master goldsmiths admitted annually in Paris by payment and without the requisite qualifications,  following a royal statute of 26 May 1714. He entered his mark on 8 March 1721 from the rue des Prêcheurs, sponsored by Arnoult Georges. In 1742/3 he was working in the Place Dauphine but in 1747 he is recorded as having parts of an old and unmarked snuffbox, which had been entrusted to him by a private individual, confiscated as they proved to be of insufficient standard (Nocq, Le poinçon de Paris, Paris, 1926-1931, vol. I, p. 320). This alone would prove that Croissant worked on snuff boxes but otherwise a number of extant examples confirm that he made both silver and gold snuff boxes. For boxes dating between 1737 and 1740, three of them stylistically very similar to the present example, see loan exhibition catalogue, Dozen am Niezen, Antwerp,  1996-1997, nos. 97 and 104, also P. Fuhring, M. Bimbenet-Privat, A. Kugel, Orfèvrerie française, La Collection Jourdan-Barry, vol II, nos. 173 &174. Presumably following the events of 1747, Croissant is not recorded in the list of goldsmiths in 1748.