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Snuffbox

Jean George (French, active 1752-1765) (Goldsmith)
Étienne Somfoye (French, active 1756 - 1762) (Other)
Jean-Jacques Prevost (French, active 1762 - 1768) (Other)
mid 19th century (?)
gold alloy with silver, diamonds (center diamond reverse painted to be pink), topaz (?), rubies, emeralds, sapphires
(18th and 19th Centuries )

In western Europe during the 18th century, small boxes, ostensibly snuff containers, executed in gold and other precious materials, were among the most prized, luxury products. In this example, the master goldsmith Jean George worked in several colors of gold, the differences being achieved by using different alloys, a technique known as quatre couleur. The images on the six surfaces of the box recall the harbor scenes of the painter Joseph Vernet (1714-1789).

Inscription

[Mark of Goldsmith] On the interior of the lid, interior of the base, and interior of left side wall indicating the work of Jean Georges: Crowned fleur-de-lis, flanked by two grains de remède with a five pointed star below and the initials JG; [Mark of Assayer] On the interior of the lid, interior of the base, and interior of the left side wall, indicating the year of 1758: Crowned, italic S; [Mark of Warden] On the interior of the lid, interior of the base, and interior of left side wall indicating the charge mark of Éloi Brichard et Étienne Somfoye: portcullis; [Warrant or décharge] On the right bezel for the export to foreign countries, approved by Jean-Jacques Prévost: a small cow; [Possible Order or Inventory Number] On the left bezel: 845.

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Sir Jacob Astley (1797-1859), 6th Baronet, 16th Baron Hastings, Norfolk, England; Sir George Manners Astley (1857-1904), 10th Baronet, 20th Baron Hastings, England, by inheritance; Harding, London; Henry Walters, Baltimore; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Exhibitions

2015-2016 Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, and Poets at the Great Islamic Courts. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.
1984 Objects of Vertu: Precious Works of the Eighteenth Century. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.

Conservation

Date Description Narrative
7/22/2004 Treatment cleaned
5/13/2015 Examination Cleaned for exhibition
6/1/2015 Treatment Cleaned for exhibition
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Geographies

France, Paris (Place of Origin)

Measurements

H (including highpoint of clasp) : 1 9/16 ×W (across the front): 3 3/16 × D (down the side): 2 5/16 in. (4 × 8.1 × 5.87 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

57.95

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