A Berlin enamel Snuff Box, workshop of Pierre Fromery, circa 1730
Made in the Berlin workshop of Pierre Fromery, this seashell-shaped snuff box is mounted with silver-gilt. The entire box is finely decorated with classical and mythological figures in pure gold, known as ‘Saxony enamel’. In the centre of the cover, a crowned classical female kneels to receive flowers from two putti attendants. To the left of the central scene sits Plenty in her chariot, holding a cornucopia, and to the right, Leda and the swan. At the far left, a winged figure clasps a column, and to the far right, Cupid waters a flowering potted plant. An enamel tree and buildings form the background, along with enamel and gold flowers and strapwork designs. Below the thumbpiece is a gold profile portrait of a Roman emperor, crowned with laurels and facing right, supported by two rampant stags. On either side is a soldier holding a shield and a drawn sword. At either end is an armorial cartouche depicting a gold female classical profile facing left on a red and yellow enamel ground, surmounted by a crown and supported by two hounds. Below the hinge is a gold profile portrait of a classical female facing left. At either side is a soldier in armour standing at ease. The background is decorated with gold swags, festoons, garlands and scrolls, with enamel flowers and leaves. The bottom of the box is decorated with a painted view of imaginary buildings among trees. The interior is entirely gilded.
There is a label with an unknown collector’s inventory number 3 to the interior.
The combination of allegorical motifs (Plenty, and soldiers representing war and peace) suggests that the box was made to celebrate a peace treaty.
The Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów, Poland, has a pair of snuff boxes of this form (the cover decorated with an image of Augustus II the Strong in left profile in the middle), part of a ten-piece toilet set including a pair of single candlesticks, two pairs of caskets of various sizes and a brush fitting (Wil.510-Wil.519). Such luxurious products were ordered and distributed by Pierre Fromery – an armourer and trader in haberdashery products, who arrived in Berlin from Paris in 1685. Fromery and his son Alexander (also trading in medals) presumably commissioned Berlin experts to make plates with this unique gold decoration.
Condition: The hinge mechanism opens and closely neatly. There is wear to the gilding on the silver mounts, and small losses to the gold decoration in places. There are typical faint hairlines to the enamel. No other damage and no restoration.
Dimensions: Length 7.7 cm; Width 4.5 cm; Height 3.3 cm
Ref. The Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów, Poland https://wmuzeach.pl/collections/muzeum-palacu-krola-janaiii-w-wilanowie_5/european-enamelworks_242