THE ENAMELS, BLOIS SCHOOL AND ORIGINALLY FROM A WATCH-CASE, CIRCA 1640, THE MOUNTS, PARIS, CIRCA 1740

This box is an interesting example of Parisian goldsmiths reacting to changing fashions and re-using earlier pieces to create new designs for snuff-boxes. There must have been a large number of watchcases that became available to goldsmiths when seventeenth century watches reached the end of their lives and which were then able to be put to a new use.