A late 18th century / early 19th century Swiss gold snuff box, Geneva circa 1800, maker’s mark VR crowned

Of oval elliptical form with stand-away hinge, the lid with central plague in three-colour gold depicting an allegory of young love, showing Cupid with arrows cast asunder beneath an urn upon pedestal, filling an ewer from an arched fountain while clasping a flower spray. Plague held within a canted corner rope twist boarder against a scored-threaded ground with bright cut engraved with stylised flower sprays and boarder of oak leaf garlands. The sides with engine turned and bright cut engraved panels interspaced between tooled urns, the base similarly decorated again. Marked with Belgian horse’s head standard mark (1831-1868) to base flange and retailers stamp, also stamped to interior and lid with incuse maker’s mark.

Length – 8 cm / 3.1 inches

Weight – 65 grams / 2.09 ozt

For a similar box by the same maker, see Sotheby’s Lot 114 ‘Silver, Miniatures & Vertu’ 24 July 2002, and also Christie’s Lot 180 Sale 2503