Property from the Alan and Simone Hartman Collection
A gold and enamel snuff box, Berlin, circa 1805
Lot Closed
May 16, 03:09 PM GMT
Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 CHF
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Read more.Lot Details
Description
rectangular with cut corners, the lid painted en plein with a lamenting Ariadne on the shores of Naxos, writing her name in the sand in front of her, with a putto by her side and Theseus' departing ship in the background, flanked to top and bottom with a gold and black taille d'épargne enamel border of flowers and buds, the sides and base similarly decorated, he base with a central black enamel panel of striking blue sunflowers against an opaque black background, later control mark to rim,
9.1 cm; 3 ⅝ in. wide
Christie's Amsterdam, 2 Nov 2010, lot 6
The story of Ariadne appears to have been modified several times by the bijoutiers creating these gold boxes in Germany in the early nineteenth century. A very similar example with a slightly less dramatic colour combination sold Sotheby's London, 5 June 1972, lot 138. For another version, see Sotheby's London, 29 November 2006, lot 45. Ariadne accompanied by a putto can further be found on the lid of an enamel box, sold Christie's Amsterdam, 2 November 2010, lot 6.
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