Rectangular gold snuffbox with rounded corners, fitted with a hinged lid. Mounted into the top of the lid is an oval painted miniature featuring a portrait of William IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (from 1803, William I, Elector of Hesse). The historical figure is depicted in a three-quarter view turned to the right, wearing a powdered wig, a full dress uniform with the sash of the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle over his shoulder, and the insignia of the Hesse-Kassel Military Merit Order (Pour la Vertu). The portrait insert is enclosed within a narrow blue enamel border. The surrounding field of the lid is filled with chased floral ornamentation and accented with large diamond inserts; the entire perimeter of the lid's rim is further highlighted by a border of diamonds.
The sides of the body feature rectangular reserves with regular engine-turned patterns within blue enamel frames, while the canted corners are decorated with chased compositions of oak leaves. The base features a central rectangular insert with geometric guilloché, outlined by a blue enamel line and enclosed within a wide chased frieze with a foliate pattern.

minimize...