A DUTCH GOLD AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL SNUFF-BOX

There is insufficient evidence to allow attribution of many works in mother-of-pearl on snuff-boxes to a particular artist or workshop, but goldsmiths or gem-cutters working in Amsterdam, Paris, Nuremberg and Augsburg are known to have carved mother-of-pearl, as they would have had the necessary tools, skills and techniques required for such exacting work. During the eighteenth century mother-of-pearl was an extremely fashionable material for snuff-boxes, étuis and gold-mounted boxes of all types. Most surviving examples of carved mother-of-pearl are relief carvings and early eighteenth century Dutch examples are characterized by their solidity and decorative themes selected from the Scriptures.