DEUX BOÎTES ET DEUX PLATEAUX EN ARGENT FILIGRANÉ ET PARTIELLEMENT DORÉ

Possibly made for a special occasion, this current model of 'crab' box and cover is extremely rare. See a closely related silver and gilt-silver 'crab' box with its stand, dated 1740-50s, once in the collection of Catherine II among a 32-piece Chinese silver filigree toilet set ordered from China as a wedding gift from his family, is today in the collection of State Hermitage, Saint Petersburg.