A gold and enamel 'history painting' snuff box, Guidon, Gide & Blondet Fils, Geneva, 1801-1804

Property from an important European private collection

A gold and enamel 'history painting' snuff box, Guidon, Gide & Blondet Fils, Geneva, 1801-1804

of rectangular form with cut corners, the lid enamelled with a dramatic view of the sea battle of the ‘Glorious 1st of June’, after James de Loutherbourg, within chased acanthus border and black enamel frame, the sides decorated in transclucent dark blue enamel over a zig zag pattern, the corners with blue taille d’épargne quatrefoils on gold reeding and black enamel, the base enamelled with stylised elongated lozenges, the interior engraved with a later inscription reading: Life doesn't consist in holding good cards, but in playing a bad hand well, P.H.J.S from A.N.J.S / October 29th 1934, maker's mark,

9.5cm., 3¾in. wide