A combined gold scent flask and snuff box, probably German, mid-18th century
Auction Closed
October 14, 05:38 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
A combined gold scent flask 🤡and snuff box, probably German, mi🍌d-18th century
in the shape of a parrot perched on an Ionic capital, the pedestal below chased with scrollwork around a central classical mask, the collared head of the bird unscrews to reveal the capped scent flask, the detachable base forming the lid of a snuff compartment in the base, the reverse of the lid set with two gold straps holding a small spoon to dispense the snuff, the base engraved with the cypher FR within scrollwork below a Royal crown, apparently unmarked,
weight: 50.3 g
height 3 in.; 7,6 cm.
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Flacon de ꦍparfum et tabatière en or, probablement Allemagne, milieu du XVIIIe siècle
en forme de perroquet, la tête de l'oiseau se dévissant pour révéler le flacon de parfum, la base amovible formant le couvercle d'un compartiment à tabac, la base gravée du chiffre FR surmonté d'une couronne royale, apparemment non poinçonnée
weight: 50.3 g
height 3 in.; 7,6 cm.
Michael Wellby, Oxford;
Graf Paris, 2015.
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Michael Wellby, Oxford;
Graf Paris, 2015.
An almost identical combined scent flask and snuff box, with a height of 7.8 centimetres and differing only in minor details at the base of the capital, is in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (Philippe Lenoir, inv. no. 350, see Serge Grandjean, Les tabatières du Musée du Louvre, Paris, 1981, no. 623, p. 383).
The absence of hallmarks preclude the identification of a specific place of manufacture. The style of the chasing is reminiscent of work produced in both Germany and England in the middle of the 18th century; however, the fitted spoon - a feature associated more usually with German snuff boxes - suggests Germany as the most likely place of origin. At a later date the base was engraved with a crowned initial F within palm leaves, intended to suggest a provenance of Frederick II, King of Prussia (r. 1740-86). This cipher, however, was not used for the king's personal chattels but rather for identifying silver plate used at the court (see Friedrich der Große, Sammler und Mäzen, Kunsthall𒆙e der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, Munich, 1992/1993, cat. no. 1🎉43).
In mid-18th century Europe, parrots were a popular subject in the decorative arts. At Meissen in the early 1740s, Johann Joachim Kändler created models of several species of the bird. These were intended to be used as decoration for the dessert table but shortly after - with the addition of ormolu mounts - they became part of elaborate candleholders and mantle clocks that were displayed in salons and boudoirs. The Charles Gouyn porcelain factory, which flourished in London in the 1750s, specialised in figural scent bottles, among them a parrot perched on a domed base that provides an interesting compariso♒n with the present gold ﷽vessel (see Victoria & Albert Museum, London, inv. no. 414:287/&A-1885).