A gold portrait snuff box, Elias Russel, London, 1773

oval, the lid inset with a miniature of  Mrs Vertue Jodrell, wearing a pink dress with elaborate raised lace collar and pearl jewellery, by Samuel Cotes, signed and dated 1774, within a finely-engraved laurel wreath, on a reeded ground decorated with leaf sprays and palm leaves, the plain polished sides and base bordered with bright-cut engraved ornament, full London hallmarks inside box, maker's mark and lion rampant on rim, in modern green leather case

The Propery of a Lady, Christie's London, 27/28 November 1984, lot 202

Some wear to base and minor dents to box but overall good condition. Excellent miniature of an interesting subject.
"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."

Vertue Jodrell (1750-1806) was the eldest daughter and co-heiress of Edward Hase, of Sail, Norfolk. She had married in 1772 the playwright Richard Paul Jodrell (1745-1831), who was her second cousin. Circa 1775 Joshua Reynolds painted a beautiful portrait of Vertue in Turkish dress (now in the Detroit Institute of Arts).

The late Brian Beet confirmed that the gold box maker Elias Russel was the cousin of the better-known Peter Roussel, husband of Mrs Chenevix, the 'toy-shop' owner (see Vanessa Brett, 'Retailing gold boxes in London and Bath', Going for Gold, Brighton, 2014, pp. 151-161). Baptised in London in 1710, the son of a Huguenot wig-maker from Metz, there appears to be no record in London of Elias's training as a goldsmith so it is probable that he learnt his craft in Europe, perhaps in Paris. He is recorded in the St Martin-in-the-Fields' rate books at Orange Street, Leicester Square, between 1739 and 1750 before taking over his cousin Peter's premises in Suffolk Street on the latter's marriage to Mrs Chenevix. Since the Smallworkers' Register (1739-58) is missing there is no record of Russel entering his London maker's marks. It seems clear, however,  that Elias, extensively recorded in Parker & Wakelin's Workmen's Ledgers, 1766-1772, was a working goldsmith rather than a retailer and was capable of working in many styles from rococo chasing on a box of 1748/9 (Christie's, 7 June 2011, lot 264) to the present very restrained and elegant engraving and bright-cut ornament. It is not recorded when or where he died but his widow Anne, daughter of Nicolas Massy of Blois, died in penury at the charitable French Hospital in 1793 (Brian Beet, 'Foreign snuff-box makers in 18th century London', The Silver Society Journal, 14, 2002, pp. 72/3).
Samuel Cotes (1734-1818) was evidently favoured by Mrs Jodrell as a later miniature of her by the artist, signed and dated 1778, was sold from the estate of Sir Alfred Jodrell of Bayfield Hall, the last Jodrell baronet, founder of the Glandford Shell Museum and local benefactor, Sotheby's, 19 July 1929, lot 35.