Snuff Box (Tabatière) (Cleveland Museum of Art 1957.412)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1753–54
In 18th-century France ornately enameled boxes that held snuff—powdered tobacco—became a popular accessory in the French court. This object’s rectangular shape differs from early work attributed to Jean Ducrollay.
Though the light colors, floral borders, and depictions of lively outdoor recreation are representative of earlier rococo imagery, the rectangular shape and simple frieze make it a primary example of rising neoclassicism. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1957.412: Snuff Box (Tabatière), 1753–54. Jean Ducrollay (French, 1709–1787), miniatures by Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe (French, 1716–1794). Gold and glass with miniatures; overall: 3.4 x 5.6 cm (1 5/16 x 2 3/16 in.).
Inscribed: [Maker's mark of Jean Ducrollay, master goldsmith in 1734, inside cover; bottom; right side]; [Charge mark of Julien Berthe, Paris, 1750-1756, inside cover; bottom; right side]; [Discharge mark of Julien Berthe, Paris, 1750-1756, on bezel]; [Inscribed on miniature, front side]: "V.[an] Blarenberghe/1753"; [Warden's mark for Paris, 1763-1754, inside cover; bottom; right side]. 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 Ducrollay family was one of the most sought-after Parisian goldsmith workshops under the reign of French King Louis XV.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold and glass with miniatures
- Dimensions
- Overall: 3.4 x 5.6 cm (1 5/16 x 2 3/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Overall: 3.4 x 5.6 cm (1 5/16 x 2 3/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold and glass with miniatures
Design
- Inscriptions
- [Maker's mark of Jean Ducrollay, master goldsmith in 1734, inside cover; bottom; right side]; [Charge mark of Julien Berthe, Paris, 1750-1756, inside cover; bottom; right side]; [Discharge mark of Julien Berthe, Paris, 1750-1756, on bezel]; [Inscribed on miniature, front side]: "V.[an] Blarenberghe/1753"; [Warden's mark for Paris, 1763-1754, inside cover; bottom; right side]
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1753–54
- Culture period
- France
- Maker recorded
- Jean Ducrollay (French, 1709–1787), Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe (French, 1716–1794)
- Museum attribution
- Jean Ducrollay (French, 1709–1787); Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe (French, 1716–1794)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1957.412
- 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. 139 The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969 . Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 139 The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978 . Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 183 Oberer, Angela, and Rosalba Carriera. Rosalba Carriera . London: Lund Humphries, 2023. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 20-21, fig. 9
- Museum classification
- Metalwork
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.