Snuff Box (Tabatière) (Cleveland Museum of Art 1957.409)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1779–80
Decorated with images derived from ancient Greek and Roman history in the style of cameos, intricately carved gemstones, this box evokes the rising neoclassical imagery in France.
The scenes on the box recount several key events in the life of Alexander the Great. The enameled works were inspired by a series of prints by Sébastien Leclerc which drew from a series of paintings by Charles Le Brun. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1957.409: Snuff Box (Tabatière), 1779–80. Pierre Marie Gault De Saint-Germain (French, 1754–1842). Gold and enamel; overall: 3.4 x 6.8 cm (1 5/16 x 2 11/16 in.). Inscribed: [Warden's mark for Paris, 1779-1780, inside bottom; inside cover]; [Illegible maker's mark, inside bottom; inside cover].
Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The original series painted by Charles Le Brun, The Battles of Alexander (Les Batailles d’Alexandre) (1600s), was commissioned by King Louis XIV of France.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold and enamel
- Dimensions
- Overall: 3.4 x 6.8 cm (1 5/16 x 2 11/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Overall: 3.4 x 6.8 cm (1 5/16 x 2 11/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold and enamel
Design
- Inscriptions
- [Warden's mark for Paris, 1779-1780, inside bottom; inside cover]; [Illegible maker's mark, inside bottom; inside cover]
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1779–80
- Culture period
- France
- Maker recorded
- Pierre Marie Gault De Saint-Germain (French, 1754–1842)
- Museum attribution
- Pierre Marie Gault De Saint-Germain (French, 1754–1842)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1957.409
- Published references
- The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966 . Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 159 The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969 . Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 159 The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978 . Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 190
- Museum classification
- Miscellaneous
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm maker, marks and date against decorative-arts references.