Rare Enamelled Gold Tobacconist, Geneva Or Paris, 1834 - "souvenir d'Amitié" With Mythological

Rare enamelled gold tobacconist, Geneva or Paris, 1834 - "Souvenir d'Amitié" with mythological miniatures

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???? Full text of the announcement

Tobacconist / gift box in enamelled gold with miniatures, dated 1834 and personally dedicated by "C. Collard” to “W. Houghton Esq.” as a memory of friendship. Work of the highest quality, attributable to the Genevan or Parisian production of the early nineteenth century.

???? Technical description

• Material: Yellow gold (to be tested), white and black blue enamel, painted miniature

• Technique: Bolino chisel, champlevé enamel, miniature on dark background

• Weight: 58 grams

• Decoration:

• Lid and base with neoclassical miniatures: amorini, ideal landscapes, floral motifs

• Frame with laurel leaves engraved on a golden background

• Enamelled bands with gold inscription: Souvenir d'Amitié

• Internal enrolment:

W HOUGHTON ESQr – From his grateful and sincere friend – C. COLLARD – May 24th 1834

???? Attribution and origin

Attributable to a Genevan or Parisian workshop specialising in high-end sentimental gift items, active in the 1820s–1830s. The quality of the miniature and the enamelled rendering are comparable to works by Jean-Georges Rémond, Bautte, Morel or Maison Fossin.

???? Historical context

Object donated as part of a high-ranking friendship, perhaps between members of the cultured bourgeoisie or British aristocracy. The name of the donor (C. Collard) could refer to a character linked to the musical or artistic environments of the time.

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???? Measures

4.3x7.8 cm height: 1.1cm

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???? Conditions

Excellent. Intact enamels, perfectly legible engraving, functional closure mechanism. No visible oxidation or restoration.

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???? Notes

• Punches to be identified (photographs available on request)

• Testable object with XRF spectrometry on request

• Comparable to specimens preserved at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) and the Musée Cognacq-Jay (Paris)