Rare Silver-gilt Snuffbox, Early 18th Century

Oval box with its hinged lid in embossed silver gilt depicting on the top a scene mixing nature and architecture. In the foreground a woman sitting under a tree in an idyllic garden or park surrounded by arcades, neoclassical monuments, a fountain and trees. In the background a city with multiple bell towers overlooks the whole. A mascaron delimits the hinge. The lower part is even more astonishing: we find a scene organized between garden, ancient monuments and city in the background with a central element which is a source of water coming out of an aqueduct flanked by sphinxes. At the front a seated man plays a wind instrument watching a character on horseback wearing a hat and talking with another man walking at his side. This scene is delimited by foliage scrolls which continue around the edge of the box.
Probably German from the 18th century.
Hallmark: swan, French control.
Weight: 90 g. (3.17 oz)