Live Auction 20036Two Private Collections of European Ceramics, Gold Boxes and Silver
A SWISS ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX
Lot 27

A SWISS ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX

BY GUIDON, GIDE & BLONDET, GENEVA, CIRCA 1801-1804

Closed16 December 2021

Price Realised

GBP 13,750

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A SWISS ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX
BY GUIDON, GIDE & BLONDET, GENEVA, CIRCA 1801-1804
Rectangular box with canted corners, the sides and underside enamelled in deep blue with black hexagonal motifs, the rim with foliate taille d'épargne arched border, the cover set with an octogonal enamel plaque depicting a mother with two infants within a chased gold frame and further applied with four gold medallions chased with trophies, within blue enamelled hexagonal frame on a black background, the side pilasters with taille d'epargne gold trophies
3 1⁄2 in. (90 mm.) wide

Alan and Simone Hartman Collection, New York.

Specialist note


The snuff box bears the mark of the firm Guidon, Gide & Blondet fils of Geneva active from 1801 until 1804; the company was founded when the company Guidon, Rémond, Gide & Co. closed down on 1 January 1801 and the two partners traded respectively as Rémond, Lamy & Co. and Guidon Gide & Blondet.

The finest gold and enamel snuff boxes produced in Geneva at the time are signed with marks from either of these two companies.

The enamel is possibly by Jean-Abraham Lissignol (1749-1819), known as Pére Lissignol who was trained by Jean-Marc Roux. As well as painting plaques for snuff boxes, he also supplied workshops with portrait miniatures for watch cases and boxes. He appears to have specialised in allegorical subjects particularly those including cherubs and family scenes.