19th century inlaid vari-coloured hardstones and gold canted rectangular box, Italian c.1820,

19th century inlaid vari-coloured hardstones and gold canted rectangular box, Italian c.1820,
Price: More than £50,000
Ref No. 02588
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Description
the cover and base centred by a rectangular panel of moss agate with black and yellow markings on a greyish-white ground, bordered by a zig-zag style inlaid band of triangles in variously coloured decorative hardstones, including banded sardonyx and agates in shades of browns, orange, green, greys and white, lapis lazuli, chalcedony, cornelian and jasper, the side panels with a similarly inlaid band formed by a central line of lozenges with triangle zig-zag above and below, cagework mounted, the gold rims engraved top and bottom with trailing foliate bands, zigzag pattern to the uprights, the interior fitted with petrified wood panels in greenish brown with pinkish-brown bands.

Following the dictates of fashion the present snuffbox is of slender form, like an example in gold and heliotrope snuffbox by Petschler.

On the lid, hardstone specimens, cut in equilateral triangles and arranged in a colourful band, frame the central specimen panel of moss agate. This hardstone mosaic is laid down on panels of petrified wood, the reverse sides of which form the lining of the interior. The fine gold cagework mounts are crisply chased with leaf-tip and laurel leaf motifs.
Length 9cm / 3½''
Width 5.8cm / 2¼''
Depth 2.2cm / 7/8''
Weight: 121.5g
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S.J. Phillips