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A fine and rare Louis XVI gold and enamel presentation snuff box, Jacques-Felix Vienot, enamel signed by Jacques Thouron, image 1
A fine and rare Louis XVI gold and enamel presentation snuff box, Jacques-Felix Vienot, enamel signed by Jacques Thouron, image 2
A fine and rare Louis XVI gold and enamel presentation snuff box, Jacques-Felix Vienot, enamel signed by Jacques Thouron, image 3
Lot 8

A fine and rare Louis XVI gold and enamel presentation snuff box,
Jacques-Felix Vienot, enamel signed by Jacques Thouron, 1787/1788

4 December 2017, 15:00 EST
New York

US$15,000 - US$18,000

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A fine and rare Louis XVI gold and enamel presentation snuff box, Jacques-Felix Vienot, enamel signed by Jacques Thouron, 1787/1788

of oval outline, the hinged lid finely painted with the Birth of Venus signed by Theuron and dated 1787 within a border of seed pearls, the sides with applied urns and floral swags on panels of blue enamel; the interior of the lid engraved with the monogram of the Dutch East India Company and inscribed "Behouden Convooy binnen Texel den 21 Jun'y 1793" presumably for the safe return of the company's ships to the home port of Texel; with the maker's mark of Jacques-Felix Vienot (fl. 1785-1806), Paris 1787/1788, with the charge and petit decharge marks of Henri Clavel 1782-1789 and the restricted warranty mark 1838-1847; length: 3 1/8in.; width: 2 1/2in.

Footnotes

Jacques Thouron (1749-1789), considered one of the finest 18th century miniaturists on enamel, was born in Geneva to a family of Protestant emigré goldsmiths. At the age of 15, he was apprenticed to the enamel painter Pierre François Marcinhès. He then moved to Paris and in 1772 joined the workshop of Jean-François Favre. Around 1780 he became miniature painter to Monsieur (the brother of Louis XVI and the future Louis XVIII.) He exhibited miniatures after Rubens, Greuze and others at the Salons of 1781 and 1782. His clientele included the French aristocracy and notables from the Arts, Literature and Politics. He died prematurely just after his fortieth birthday; and there are only few surviving examples of his work. 19th century critics considered him on par with Petitot.

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