A Gold and Enamel Snuff Box, German, Circa 1790

oval, the lid set with an enamel plaque representing Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi, and her children en grisaille in a classical landscape before curtain-hung pillars, in a gold and blue enamel border of alternating crescent and tulip-shaped paillons, the outer white enamel frame decorated with trailing foliage, the sides and base with pale blue enamel reserves bordered with gold and cobalt blue enamel bands, the sides further decorated with taille d'épargne enamel swag-hung urns on an opaque white enamel ground as dividers, maker's mark crowned R incuse in italics, later control mark to front rim

Length 3 3/8 in.

8.5 cm