A Magnificent and Rare Gold and Hardstone ‘Steinkabinett’ Box, Christian Gottlieb Stiehl, Dresden, circa 1770

oval, all sides inlaid in 'Zellenmosaik' with differently patterned hardstone specimens within wavy bands of gold engraved with small numbers above each panel, surrounded with reeded or stippled engraving, framed by borders of white opal ovals and with lapis lazuli quatrefoils, the lid further centred with an ingeniously inlaid flower spray including a peony with separately inlaid agate petals, a red carnation also inlaid in pietre dure, agate tulips and foiled smaller blossoms, as well as turquoise forget-me-nots of varying sizes, surrounded with cloisons of bloodstone leaves and stems, some reaching as far as the opal border, all of the 43 numbered irregularly-shaped hardstone specimens on the lid mounted à jour, creating the impression of a stained glass window, the sides inlaid with a Zellenmosaik of 72 slightly asymmetrical and seemingly floating lozenge-shaped hardstones arranged by colour and from various places of occurrence, including agates, jaspers and nephrite within white opal borders matching those on the lid and engraved interlaced gold ribbons on a reeded ground, the base similarly decorated with another 72 hardstone specimens within sinuous gold lines resembling a graduated web around a central lilac with foiled amethyst petals and bloodstone leaves, fitted with a secret sliding compartment opening when one of the opals to lower side is pressed, containing a handwritten paper booklet titled ‘Catalogue de toutes Sortes de Pierres qui se trouvent en Saxe’, listing all the hardstones chosen for the box as well as their place of occurrence sorted by lid, sides and base, both in French and in old German script (Kurrent), apparently unmarked apart from post-1838 French hibou control mark,

7.4 cm., 2 7/8 in. wide