A Gold and Enamel Snuff Box, Les Frères Toussaint, Hanau, Circa 1780

oval, the lid set with an oval enamel miniature of a classically dressed young couple in landscape, within a chased gold rope twist frame and opaque white enamel borders entwined with black bands, on an aubergine-colored translucent enamel ground over wavy engine-turning scattered with pellets, within a further rope twist frame and white enamel entrelac bands alternating with a black paillon border, the interior of the lid later engraved with a Cyrillic presentation inscription reading: 'На память от М. П. Позена завещена внуку его Графу М. Н. Муравьеву в Полтаве 16 апреля 1862 года' ('From M. P. Pozen with a dedication to his grandson Count M. N. Muraviev in Poltava 16 April 1862'), Hanau marks including maker's mark, 'Alaterre' rosette and date letter K, Hanau bird's head control mark for 19 ct gold

Length 3 1/4 in.

8.4 cm