Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 3 pages
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
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).
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
26464
label
Snuffbox
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
3
Source metadata
id
26464
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Snuffbox
description
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).
provenance
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.
date
mid 19th century (?)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
snuffboxes
imageCount
3
pageCount
3
source
import
dimensionsRaw
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)
Source extras
inscriptions
[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.
med
gold alloy with silver, diamonds (center diamond reverse painted to be pink), topaz (?), rubies, emeralds, sapphires
creator_ids
4635
34734
16215
collection_ids
EAN
exhibition_ids
3334
2689
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
11c02b868654e8d1
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
dabeb5bd191d5d0c
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
c845a0fb2c8397b8
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no