Snuffboxes and Сigarette Сases

"Antony and Cleopatra" snuffbox

    "Antony and Cleopatra" snuffbox

    Great Britain, London

    1760–1765

    Metal, enamel, gold, painted enamel; chasing, engraving, matting (pounced background), gilding

    Width: 55 mm

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    Gilded, rounded, shaped body features a hinged lift-top lid. The curved side surfaces and the bottom of the body are decorated with a chased and engraved raised ornamentation of rocaille motifs framing bouquets of flowers against matted (pounced) background. The top lid features a circular insert adorned with polychrome enamel miniatures on both sides. It is suggested that this insert previously served as the lid of a pocket watch. The top miniature depicts the scene of the meeting between the Roman leader Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. The image is a miniature copy of the painting "The Meeting of Antony and Cleopatra" (French: La Rencontre d'Antoine et de Cléopâtre), executed circa 1645 by the French Baroque artist Sébastien Bourdon (February 2, 1616 – May 8, 1671). The head of the Gorgon Medusa is depicted on Antony's shield. The insert is framed by a raised ornament of rocaille motifs, palmettes, and branches. The interior side of the lid depicts a river landscape with a stone bridge and houses in the background. The interior surfaces of the snuffbox are mirror-polished.

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    2134MC287/ДПИ