A Meissen tobacco or playing cards box, circa 1745

painted in purple-camaïeu with eight cartouches of battle scenes after Rugendas and soldiers and figures in landscapes within elaborate gilt-scrollwork frames, the interior of the cover with a scene of five figures playing a card game,

Anon. sale, Christie's Geneva, 13th May 1985 (with a related stand);
With Elfriede Langeloh, Cologne.

Otto Seitler, 'Der Meißner Porzellanmeister Johann Martin Heinrici (1711 - 1786)', in Weltkunst 1956, Heft 24, p. 10, illustrated.

In overall good condition. Some typical minor wear to gilding at extremities. Some small areas of visible glue residue at mount on interior edge.
"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."

The source of the interior scene is possibly the print 'Playing the game at Quadrille', after the painting by Francis Hayman (1708-76) which is now in the collection of the Birmingham Museums Trust. A closely related box painted with a similar table scene of a party of figures smoking, taken from the 1733 engraving by Bernard Lépicié after Jean-Baptiste Pater from the Irwin Untermyer collection is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, acc. no. 1974.28.124, having previously been sold at Christie's London, 16th March 1970, lot 57.