Stock No. 2915	18th C. French "Boite a Pomponne" snuff box
	Highly attractive and collectable oval French "boite a pomponne" snuff box made of copper. The base and sides of the box, as well as the sides of the lid are completely gilded with three colours of gold. The top of the lid is made of tortoishell with a central gilded cartouche. Circa 1780. The base of the box is very decoratively engraved with garlands of leaves and flowers and has a large trophy in the centre of musical instruments. The decoration of the sides of the box is carried over into the sides of the lid and both are engraved with garlands of leaves and flowers interspersed with four smaller trophies of musical instruments. The applied cartouche on the lid is gilded with two colours of gold and chased with a scene of a basket of flowers and leaves on which is sitting a bird with outstretched wings, holding a musical score in its beak. Beneath is a rake and a rural hat, a horn and another musical instrument.

Condition :-Superb condition on the outside and just a little bit of wear to the gilding on the inside of the box
Circa :- 1780
Size :- 3.5 inches (8.89 cm) long x 1.8 inches (4.57 cm) wide x 1.15 inches (2.92 cm) high
Copper snuff boxes of the quality of goldsmiths' work are said to have been made in Paris in the mid to second half of the eighteenth century by a jeweller whose name is not recorded. These boxes were known as "boites a Pomponne" after the "hotel" in which they were made.This particular box is a delight. The quality of the workmanship is superlative and it is a true collector's piece.

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