Gold Snuffbox With Portrait Signed Boichard. Circa 1809-1819.

Large and exceptional rectangular snuffbox in gold, featuring an oval portrait of a woman on ivory. The hinged lid is decorated with a half-length portrait of a woman on a gray background wearing a white, empire-waist gown and a red wrap embellished with a thin stripe. The woman is also wearing a coral parure set of a bandeau, earrings, and a necklace. The portrait is framed with intricately sculpted rinceaux on a matte gold background. The body of the box is embellished with four checkerboard panels framed in rinceaux friezes on a matte gold background. These same motifs of checkerboard and rinceaux also appear on the corners and base of the snuffbox. On the grey background you can see a trace probably due to humidity.
Miniature signed: J.A. Boichard.
Height: 0.8 in / Length: 3.2 in Depth: 2,36 in
Weight: 5.7 oz
Early 19th century gold marks: Rooster and Lion head (1809-1819)
Master Goldsmith:Augustin-André Héguin. He became master, sponsored by Jean-Joseph Barrière, on 16 April 1785. At this time he was making plain and enamelled snuff boxes and bijouterie, being one of several suppliers to Grancher at the Petit Dunkerque, a sure sign of good quality. He continued to work after the Revolution, entering a new mark in 1804/5 for ‘le gros et le petit bijou’ from 11 rue de la Monnaie and moving to 27 place Thionville (formerly place Dauphine) in 1811.
Early 19th century work, circa 1809-1819. 
Miniaturist: J.A. (Joseph Alphonse) Boichard, a student of Vincent, the painter. He displayed his miniatures regularly at the Salon de Paris from 1804 to 1819.
Price: 22000€
REF: 4907