Large Romantic Tortoiseshell Candy Box/snuffbox With 4 Gold-rimmed Miniatures, 18th Century

A very interesting tortoiseshell box adorned with four miniatures, dating from the late 18th century.

The box is round, made of translucent, mottled blond tortoiseshell.

The lid is decorated with four superb miniatures with rose gold-lined borders. Gold-lined borders are the application of a thin sheet of gold over another metal.

Two of these oval miniatures depict a couple. The man on the left is pensive, his hand on his forehead, reading documents. The woman is praying, her hands clasped, her gaze turned towards the heavens.
Above and below are two round miniatures in the antique style, executed in grisaille, on the theme of love. Above is a putto holding a shield inscribed with two flaming hearts, surmounted by a pair of doves, and holding a torch in the other hand. Below, another putto leans against a column surmounted by an urn.

The entire vocabulary developed in these miniatures serves to depict the love between the man and woman portrayed, each yearning for the other.

A magnificent box, a very moving romantic testament to the so-called friendship gifts that were very fashionable in the 18th century.

8 cm in diameter
2.3 cm in height

71.61 grams

Good overall condition. A few small chips to the scales, very slight deformation of the rims, and the beginning of glass decay on the two oval miniatures.

Collection in person in Paris or shipping via insured Colissimo.

France: €15
Europe: €20
Rest of the world: €35