Live Auction 2004Important English, Continental and American Silver
A FINE GERMAN VARI-COLOR GOLD, ENAMEL AND GEM-SET SNUFFBOX
Lot 8 PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED COLLECTION 

A FINE GERMAN VARI-COLOR GOLD, ENAMEL AND GEM-SET SNUFFBOX

HANAU, CIRCA 1840

Closed22 May 2008

Price Realised

USD 22,500

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A FINE GERMAN VARI-COLOR GOLD, ENAMEL AND GEM-SET SNUFFBOX
HANAU, CIRCA 1840
Rectangular, the cover set with a diamond-set steam locomotive flanked by two European-cut diamonds and with diamond-set crossed spike-hammers in the corners, against a matte ground with arabesques, the outer leaf-chased border with blue, red and green enamel, the sides and base with engine-turned panels within foliate borders, marked inside base and on cover bezel
3½ in. (8.9 cm.) long

Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sinatra,
Sold Christie's New York, 1 December 1995, lot 25

Specialist note

The present snuffbox undoubtedly commemorates the opening of one of the European railroads, which were established in rapid succession on the Continent after 1828. In that year, Austria and France built their first lines, and Belgium, Germany, Russia, Italy and the Netherlands followed in the 1830s.