Golden Musical Snuffbox With A Lyre, Jean-george Rémond & Co, Geneva, Switzerland.

An exceptional rectangular musical snuffbox made of gold, crafted in Geneva by Jean-George Rémond & Co. during the heyday of Swiss jewelry art and micromechanics in the early 19th century. The case is crafted entirely of gold and covered with a fine guilloché pattern that creates a lively, rhythmic surface effect, characteristic of the finest Geneva-made pieces from the late Neoclassical period and the First Empire.

The borders are adorned with floral friezes enhanced with deep blue translucent enamel. The hinged lid features a rich central composition depicting a lyre, a classical symbol of harmony, art, and poetry. The lyre is set with brilliant turquoise stones and framed by half-pearls forming undulating lines that evoke musical rhythm. The piece as a whole attests to the artistic excellence of Jean-George Rémond’s workshop.

The reverse is decorated with a guilloché field surrounded by a blue-enameled floral border, with the winding hole discreetly placed in the corner. The sides, with their rounded corners, are embellished with a repetitive pattern that emphasizes the coherence and completeness of the design.

Inside is a high-quality musical mechanism, attributed to the masters Piguet & Meylan, which plays two melodies selected via a side pusher. The mechanism, of great precision, is typical of the finest examples of early 19th-century Geneva micro-mechanics. The original winding key is preserved. The presence of the original design drawing for the snuffbox constitutes a rare documentary record of the collaboration between Genevan jewelers and mechanics of the period.

Hallmarks: Manufacturer’s hallmark of Jean-George Rémond & Co, Geneva, circa 1804–1812.

Dimensions: 8.5 × 5.0 × 1.8 cm.

Weight: 220 g.

Condition: Very good. Case free of distortion; guilloché work is sharp; enamels, turquoises, and half-pearls are well-preserved. Musical mechanism has been serviced by a professional and is in perfect working order.

Provenance: European private collection.

ID-ANTQ-11190