Louis XV French Gold Snuff Box and Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1752-3
This Louis XV-period objet d'art comprises a cylindrical 18K yellow gold vessel featuring a snuff compartment and an integrated watch. The exterior is decorated with a hand-engraved pattern.
The horological component is attributed to Charles Dutertre, a Parisian clockmaker, while the box is the work of the goldsmith Barnabé Sageret. The piece dates to 1752-1753, evidenced by a French charge mark and date letter. The watch dial is signed by Dutertre, and the case carries a maker's mark. Measuring 1 3/8 inches in height and 2 inches in diameter, the object serves as both a functional timepiece and a container for snuff.
The movement is visible within the casing and includes engraved details and the serial number 786. It remains a documented example of combined luxury goldsmithing and clockmaking from mid-18th-century Paris.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- Circa 1752-3
- Type
- Integrated watch and snuff box
- Maker
- Barnabé Sageret and Charles Dutertre
- Markings
- Partial French charge mark 1750-56
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Signature
- Sageret À Paris
- Dimensions
- 1 3/8" high x 2" diameter
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Barnabé Sageret and Charles Dutertre
Design
- Visible features
- • Cylindrical vessel with two distinct compartments • Intricately engraved gold surfaces • White enamel dial with Roman numerals • Gilded movement plate with bridge and signature
- Dating and Attribution
- The object is dated to the period of 1752-1753 based on official French hallmarks. The box bears a partial French charge mark associated with the years 1750-1756, accompanied by the specific date letter 'M', which corresponds to the years 1752-1753. These marks serve as the primary evidence for the dating of the object, situating it within the reign of Louis XV. Attributions to Barnabé Sageret and Charles Dutertre are provided by the vendor. Sageret is documented in institutional collections, and Dutertre is identified in the source as a significant clockmaker of the era, whose work was represented in the collections of contemporary aristocrats. These details support the characterization of the object as a product of specialized professional collaboration in 18th-century Paris.
- Construction and Design
- The object is a cylindrical vessel constructed from 18K yellow gold. Its exterior surfaces feature a densely applied, hand-engraved geometric pattern. The vessel is divided into two distinct sections, serving a dual purpose: one side functions as a compartment for snuff, while the opposite side houses the integrated watch. The watch dial, positioned within the cylindrical housing, is finished in white enamel and features black Roman numerals. The hour and minute hands are visible, indicating the passage of time within the constraints of the compact enclosure. The overall dimensions of the piece, measuring 1 3/8 inches in height and 2 inches in diameter, suggest it was intended for handheld use or storage in a waistcoat pocket.
- Movement and Signatures
- The horological component is signed by Charles Dutertre, a Parisian clockmaker. The watch movement is visible upon opening the box, revealing a bridge and plates consistent with mid-18th-century French watchmaking. The signature "Charles Dutertre" appears on the dial, and the internal movement plate is also signed. The serial number 786 is present on the movement plate, providing a specific identifier for the watch mechanism. The goldsmithing work is attributed to Barnabé Sageret. The box carries a maker's mark stamped into the gold, reading "SAGERET À PARIS". This marking verifies the manufacture of the gold vessel within the Parisian context of the period.
Identification
- Serial number
- 786
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
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: The source provides a date range and attributes the object to specific makers, though independent verification of these historical marks is not provided by the current source.
- Research required: The precise functionality of the internal movement is not verified beyond the photographic evidence of its assembly.