Lot 465
  • 465

A GOLD, PEARL AND ENAMEL SNUFF BOX FOR THE TURKISH MARKET, PAINTED BY JEAN-LOUIS RICHTER, GENEVA, CIRCA 1800 | A gold, pearl and enamel snuff box for the Turkish market, painted by Jean-Louis Richter, Geneva, circa 1800

Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
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Description

  • 8.7 cm. 3 1/2 in., wide, in original green leather case
rectangular with cut corners, the lid painted with fisherfolk, after Vernet, by Jean-Louis Richter, signed: Richter, within a theatrical fringed and tasselled draped curtain, split pearl border, the sides and base unusually enamelled in translucent purple over striped scale engine-turning within taille d'épargne enamel borders, the interior of the lid with presentation inscription dated 1835, maker's mark G.G incuse

Provenance

The inscription reads: 'Presented by George Thorp to / Dr Martin, H.M.S. Hastings, / for his Kind attention to him / during his stay at Lisbon 17 May / 1835' H.M.S. Hastings, a 74-gun vessel built in Calcutta for the East India Company was sold soon after construction in 1819 to the Royal Navy. In the mid 1830s, it was under the command at Lisbon of Captain Henry Shiffner (1789-1859) at Lisbon, bearing the flag of Rear Admiral Sir William Hall Gage (1777-1864). Dr. W. Martin, the ship’s surgeon, was one of the signatories to the autopsy of Auguste Charles Eugène Napoléon, Duke of Leuchtenberg (Milan, 9 December 1810 – Lisbon, 28 March 1835) who had been married two months before on 26 January to Dona Maria II of Portugal (1819-1853), daughter of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil. For another snuff box relating to Queen Maria I of Portugal, see lot 495 in this sale.

Condition

Back panel almost completely chipped and lacking enamel, otherwise excellent condition
"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."

Catalogue Note

For another Turkish market snuff box, the interior of the lid painted with a view of Constantinople, bordered by similar tassel-hung gold curtains, see Haydn Williams, Turquerie, London, 2014, fig. 282.