Gold Boxes, Ceramics & Silver

Gold Boxes, Ceramics & Silver

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 12. A gold and enamel snuff box, Les Frères Toussaint, Hanau, circa 1788.

A gold and enamel snuff box, Les Frères Toussaint, Hanau, circa 1788

Lot Closed

May 26, 12:12 PM GMT

Estimate

20,000 - 30,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

A gold and enamel snuff box, Les Frères Toussaint

Hanau, circa 1788


oval, the lid inset with an oval enamel plaque depicting the Battle of Hogland (1788), the ground enamelled in black within opaque white enamel and translucent green paillon oakleaf and acorn dividers and borders, maker's mark, French prestige marks including charge mark of Julien Alaterre and date letter K, the rim with Hanau 18ct gold bird head control mark

8.1cm. 3 1/4 in. wide

The battle of Hogland, a naval action which took place during the Russo-Swedish war of 1788-1790, was indecisive in its result although the Russians claimed victory since the weakened Swedish fleet was unable to attack further. The Swedes therefore were thwarted in their aim of advancing on St Petersburg.


The set of maker's marks for Les Frères Toussaint seen on the present box are their second group, in use from about 1773. For further details and the history of the firm, see Lorenz Seelig,  ‘Eighteenth century Hanau gold boxes’, Silver Society of Canada Journal, 2015, vol. 18, pp. 34-40.