BY LES FRÈRES TOUSSAINT (FL. 1752-1803), MARKED, HANAU, CIRCA 1780, STRUCK WITH THE HANAU TOWN MARK FOR 19 CARAT GOLD, CROWNED LETTER K RESEMBLING THE PARISIAN DATE LETTER 1773/1774 AND A MARK RESEMBLING THE PARISIAN CHARGE MARK FOR 1768-1774 AND TWO FRENCH 1838-PRESENT SMALL GUARANTEE MARKS FOR GOLD

Details

A GERMAN ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX
BY LES FRÈRES TOUSSAINT (FL. 1752-1803), MARKED, HANAU, CIRCA 1780, STRUCK WITH THE HANAU TOWN MARK FOR 19 CARAT GOLD, CROWNED LETTER K RESEMBLING THE PARISIAN DATE LETTER 1773/1774 AND A MARK RESEMBLING THE PARISIAN CHARGE MARK FOR 1768-1774 AND TWO FRENCH 1838-PRESENT SMALL GUARANTEE MARKS FOR GOLD
oval box, the cover, sides and base set with enamelled panels with harbour scenes, castle ruins, trees and foliage painted in purple en camaïeu on an opalescent oyster-pink ground, within white enamel fillets and sky-blue frames with white enamel beading and gold entrelac borders
2¼ in. (58 mm.) wide

Brought to you by

David McLachlan

dmclachlan@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2650

Lot Essay

Charles (1720-1790) and his brother Pierre-Etienne Toussaint (1726-1806) were Berlin bijoutiers of Huguenot descent who arrived in Hanau in 1752. Such was their influence amongst the Hanau goldsmiths that by 1762 they were employing several German craftsmen and chasers.

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