A TREASURY OF VERTU: Important Gold Boxes from a Private Family Collection
A TREASURY OF VERTU: Important Gold Boxes from a Private Family Collection
A three-colour gold and hardstone snuff box, Paris, 1756
Auction Closed
December 10, 02:29 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A three-colour gold and hardstone snuff box, Paris, 1756
of octagonal form with double lid, centred with a large panel of agate with mossy inclusions within a wide border chased in coloured golds with flowers and scrolls, gold foot rim, marks on lining somewhat rubbed but traces of charge mark of Eloi Brichard and date letter, the rim with discharge mark of Eloi Brichard, in leather case
6.2 cm., 2 1/2 in. wide
2
Princess Catherine Dashkov (1742-1810), confidante and friend of Catherine II;
given by her with other mementos to her companion, Martha Wilmot, during her exile at Troitske between 1804 and 1810;
Miss Wilmot married Mr Bradford, chaplain to the British Ambassador in Vienna, and together with their daughter Catherine, compiled a descriptive catalogue with her mother, of the collection with water-colour illustrations, known in the family as 'the Green Book', around 1859;
the collection and album were inherited by General William Bradford who gave it to the parents of a 'Lady of Title' who sold them at Christie's, Geneva on 8 May 1979. The present box was included as lot 49 and Catherine Bradford's drawing was also illustrated in the catalogue. Her mother's description read: 'Arborized Agate or Mocha stone - A most beautiful box. The centre of the lid rises when a certain spring is touched, showing a miniature picture. The portrait has been removed'.
given by her with other mementos to her companion, Martha Wilmot, during her exile at Troitske between 1804 and 1810;
Miss Wilmot married Mr Bradford, chaplain to the British Ambassador in Vienna, and together with their daughter Catherine, compiled a descriptive catalogue with her mother, of the collection with water-colour illustrations, known in the family as 'the Green Book', around 1859;
the collection and album were inherited by General William Bradford who gave it to the parents of a 'Lady of Title' who sold them at Christie's, Geneva on 8 May 1979. The present box was included as lot 49 and Catherine Bradford's drawing was also illustrated in the catalogue. Her mother's description read: 'Arborized Agate or Mocha stone - A most beautiful box. The centre of the lid rises when a certain spring is touched, showing a miniature picture. The portrait has been removed'.