PRESENTATION BOX

Currently in storage

About this object

The round box has a detachable cover and is therefore identified as a bonbonnière. The cover is set with a bust-length profile portrait in enamel of Catherine II facing left. The composition bears some resemblance to Aleksei Antropov's 1766 portrait of the Empress (Novgorod Museum) after Fedor Rokotov's 1763 portrait (Tretyakov Gallery), but in this version the empress wears a higher-necked gown and her décolletage is covered with an extensive lace ruffle. She wears a small imperial crown, the blue sash of the Order of St. Andrew and the diamond star of an Order. (The star is partially covered and is somewhat difficult to interpret.) This is encircled by several narrow bands of white enameled dots and a blue enameled band. Outside this is a wide band of enamel in royal blue. The outer borders are dots of white enamels. The frame decoration is royal blue enamel and white dots for borders fills the back and sides.

Object name:: PRESENTATION BOX
Made from:: Gold -- enamel
Made in:: Switzerland
Date made:: late 19th-early 20th Century
Size:: H. 7/8 × Diam. 3 1/8 in. (2.2 × 8 cm)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:: 11.31.1-2
Class:: GOLD
Signature marks:: MARK: Shell (imitation of Fermier General's discharge mark, 1756-1762) MARK: Owl-struck twice (indicating object of undetermined origin, sold in France, in use from 1893) MARK: fleurette (imitation of the Fermier General charge mark, 1768-1774) [on bottom of box] MARK: Crowned R and F on a shield (imitation of Paris Warden's mark)
Credit line:: Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973