Mid 18th Century German Enamelled, Gilt and Silver Snuff Box
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1730
This mid-18th-century German snuff box is rectangular in form, featuring silver mounts accented with French eagle head marks. The construction of the box incorporates white enamel as a base, which is further decorated with translucent green enamel work applied throughout the exterior surfaces, including the underside.
The decorative scheme is characterized by detailed gilt ornamentation, which depicts various figures and ho-ho birds interspersed with star motifs. Measuring 8cm by 6cm, the snuff box exhibits the intricate craftsmanship typical of high-quality luxury items from this period. The box is attributed to the workshop of the French Huguenot emigré Pierre Fromery in Berlin, dating back to approximately 1730. Following the death of Pierre Fromery in 1738, his son Alexander Fromery continued the tradition of producing such enamelled luxury wares.
This piece represents the refined decorative techniques, specifically the combination of metal mounts, enamel layering, and gilding, prevalent in European snuff box manufacture during the 1700s.
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.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver, white enamel, green translucent enamel, gilt
- Dimensions
- 8cm x 6cm
Technical characteristics
- Marks
- French eagle head mark on silver mounts
Design
- Decoration
- gilt figures, ho-ho birds, and stars
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Fromery workshop
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.