19th Century Swiss 18-Karat Gold and Enamel Snuff Box, Guidon, Gide and Blondet

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19th Century Swiss 18-Karat Gold and Enamel Snuff Box, Guidon, Gide and Blondet

About the Item

Antique early 19th century Swiss 18-karat gold snuff box, the lid set with a marquise shaped panel delicately hand painted depicting holly mother and child surrounded by an engraved laurel leaf boarder and a large boarder with ovals and arrows, circa 1800. Engine-turned decoration on lid, sides and base, applied with dark blue translucent enamel, within light blue boarders and navettes. Hallmarked with crowned maker mark GGB (Guidon, Gide & Blondet fils, Geneva, (1801-1804), enameled by Abraham Lissignol. The snuff box is stamped by the firm of Guidon, Gide et Blondet who were active in Geneva between 1801 and 1804. The formal closure of the Geneva firm of Guidon, Rémond, Gide & Co. on 1 January 1801 was followed by a division of the partners who, on the same day, opened on the one hand, Rémond, Lamy & Co. and on the other, Guidon Gide & Blondet. The marks of all three firms are to be found on the best Geneva gold and enamel snuff boxes of the period, such as a snuff box depicting Carlos IV of Spain and his consort Maria Luisa of Parma being welcomed to Barcelona on 1 September 1802 (sold 3 July 2012 at Sotheby’s). It was rare to record such a precise event on a Geneva box which also meant that it gave independent confirmation of the date of the mark. The enamel is probably by Jean-Abraham Lissignol (1749-1819), known as Pére Lissignol to distinguish him from his son Abraham who was also an enameller in Geneva; Pére Lissignol was trained by Jean-Marc Roux. As well as painting plaques for snuff boxes, he also supplied workshops with portrait miniatures for watch cases and boxes. He appears to have specialized in allegorical subjects particularly those including plump cherubs. A box in the Patek Philippe Museum shows such a scene identified as the allegory of The Arts and Nature. In 1806, Père Lissignol wrote eloquently to the Paris authorities (Geneva then being occupied by France) suggesting that the Imperial Court should buy enameled trinkets to encourage the failing trade in Geneva, just as they had bought Lyons silk to help that market recover (Geneva Archives). Measures: Height 2cm Width 8 x 6cm Weight 84.4g.

Dimensions:
Height: 0.79 in (2 cm)Width: 3.15 in (8 cm)Depth: 2.37 in (6 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Enamel,Gold
Place of Origin:
Switzerland
Period:
1800-1809
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1800
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. In Excellent Condition - No Damage.
Seller Location:
Royal Tunbridge Wells, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: A64131stDibs: LU1348220694222