Beschreibung:

A three colour gold and enamel oval snuff box, prestige marks including maker’s mark LC below a fleur-de-lys and the discharge mark of Julien Alaterre, possibly German, late 19th century, the lid centred with a plaque painted with two young women before a seated Roman youth, framed by chased floral garlands and scrolls, the borders similarly decorated, the reserve, side and base enamelled in translucent green over reeded engine-turning and further enriched with rosettes and loop motif enamelled in opaque white, the side with pilaster divisions supporting chased portrait medallions, the base centred with a plaque painted with a Roman soldier on horseback, 8.7cm wide This collection of historically important boxes and watches was created between the 1920s and 1940s, when the current vendor's grandfather purchsed pieces in Germany in the 1920s, and later in New York in the 1940s. The collection has the collector's eye for rare and exquisite pieces, and a fervent interest in the Bonaparte family. Some parts of the collection, aside from the current collection inherited by the current vendor, which were sold in the 1990s, included a pair of silver gilt verrieres made for Napoleon Bonaparte's mother, Letizia Ramolino (known as Madame Mere); and a silver gilt soup tureen from the Demidov service, all made by the Parisian silversmith Odiot. The collection reveals the highest connoisseurship and the deepest passion for the finest craftsmanship of the most famous jewellers, silversmiths, box makers and watchmakers from the 18th to the 20th century. ** This lot is subject to 5% Temporary Import Duty and the buyer must pay Temporary Import Duty on both the hammer and the buyer's premium at a rate of 5%. Condition report disclaimer