GOLD AND TORTOISESHELL SNUFFBOX BY PIERRE-ANDRE MONTAUBAN, PARIS, 1800-1809 Rectangular plain, the lid decorated with a Greek drachma, the edge of the lid bearing the inscription “This box which belonged to the Emperor Napoleon and which he used to St Helena is shared with his sister Caroline”, with a red label with Murat collections, hallmarks in the body and cover: title, guarantee and goldsmith L .: 85 mm. (3 3/8 in.)
Sold for EUR 35,000 at Christies in 2017
A gold-mounted tortoiseshell and cameo snuffbox, Pierre-André Montauban, Paris, 1798-1809 rectangular, the lid inset with two oval onyx cameos, one carved with Eurydice in swirling garments bitten by the serpent, after Giovanni Pichler, the other with the vestal virgin Tuccia with her sieve, after Luigi Pichler, each in a rectangular gold spandrel with cut corners, chased with leaf motifs, within dark blue enamel borders, gold mounts and lining, maker’s mark, bear’s head 3e titre and 3e Paris titre et garantie 1798-1809 8.9cm., 3 1/2 in. long
Sold for 10,000 GBP at Sothebys in 2018
Snuffbox with Portrait of Louis XIV, King of France
One of the key figures in painted enamel miniature portraits, Jean Petitot painted the portraits of French aristocracy. This portrait of King Louis XIV was completed by the French/Swiss artist in the 17th century and was incorporated into a snuffbox in the 18th century.
Jean Petitot (Swiss, 1607-1691) (Painter) Pierre-André Montauban (Goldsmith)
Reference: The Walter Art Museum
