A 12k gold mounted oval painting, gouache on thin natural wafer, is beautifully mounted in a tall 4" diameter table snuff box. I am uncertain of his origin. I bought him and a large but shorter one with a beautiful Empire era woman in France, but I think they might both be Prussian - German or Austrian, perhaps even Russian in origin. The man shown here wears the dress clothing of a c.1770-1800 aristocrat, and his expression is particularly Prussina, isn't it? Beautifully painted, a nice detail of the clothing is also shown. The precision work of shell and stunning burled wood, lathe-turned, lined in shell, is splendid. Note the lathed form, and the fine condition.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. Two mentions: 1. a couple of slight dents, imperfections to the old 12k gold surround. I have not taken him out of his mount for fear of making it more noticeable. 2. There is a natural hairline, a factor of the wood, which I've marked with an x on one image but if you look for it on other images, you can see it is naturally occurring and not a break - a flaw in the old turned wood, visible on the photos for your review. I have never taken this portrait out of its place, so all images are through the very slightly convex original cover glass. A stunning compliment of natural materials on this one - that box feels superb in the hand! A distinguished man, perhaps not French at all from my experience in these old boxes. No signature visible. Top and bottom fit perfectly, smooth and snug.
