A gold and enamel snuff box, German, circa 1790

Property of an Italian private collection

A gold and enamel snuff box, German, circa 1790

of oblong form, all sides decorated in translucent blue enamel over diaper engine-turning, within blue basse-taille enamel ivy leaf borders on a reeded ground, alternating with small oval enamel plaques painted en grisaille with trees, French prestige marks including J crowned and T crowned, the rim numbered: 171, stamped St. Petersburg town mark, assay master HH/NN and '72', possibly prestige marks

9.8cm., 3⅞in. wide