Live Auction 5377Centuries of Style: Silver, European Ceramics, Portrait Miniatures and Gold Boxes
A GERMAN PASTE-SET GOLD PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX SET WITH A PORTRAIT MINIATURE
Lot 117

A GERMAN PASTE-SET GOLD PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX SET WITH A PORTRAIT MINIATURE

PROBABLY HANAU, CIRCA 1840, THE FLANGE STAMPED 282

Closed31 May 2012

Price Realised

GBP 10,625

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A GERMAN PASTE-SET GOLD PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX SET WITH A PORTRAIT MINIATURE
PROBABLY HANAU, CIRCA 1840, THE FLANGE STAMPED 282
rectangular boldly chased box with wavy sides, the cover inset with a portrait miniature of a nobleman called William of Prussia (1797-1888), King of Prussia 1861-1888 and Emperor of Germany 1871-1888, within a paste surround with four silver-mounted paste stones set at each corner, surrounded by cast gold trailing foliage and flowerheads on a matted ground, the wavy sides and base engraved with strapwork, scrolls and flowers, with incorporated scrolling thumbpiece
3¼ in. (82 mm.) wide

Christie's, Rome, 1 December 2004, lot 298.

Specialist note

Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the establishment of the German Empire. In his memoirs, Bismarck describes William as an old-fashioned, courteous, infallibly polite gentleman and a genuine Prussian officer, whose good common sense was occasionally undermined by 'female influences'.