Snuffbox with geometric pattern
Snuffbox with geometric pattern
Germany, Hanau
1775–1780
Fernau, Esaias; Marchand, Daniel
Gold, enamel
3.6 × 8.0 × 4.1 cm
Master's mark; "Prévost" wreath; crowned letter U; mark in form of bird's head, indicating 19-karat gold in Hanau; stamp «1917»; French control mark in form of eagle's head, 1847–1919, stamped twice
The master's mark on this snuffbox is stamped unclearly, however, apparently, it coincides with the mark of another snuffbox, which bears the same combination of marks, including the initials, clearly readable as FM. This mark belongs to the workshop founded by Esaias Fernau and Daniel Marchand in 1762 and which existed until 1780. During this period, they petitioned Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (1720–1785), five times with a request to allow them to work in partnership and enjoy tax benefits and certain other privileges (Personalfreiheit). It can be assumed that this snuffbox, clearly created to demonstrate the beauty of patterns executed by the guilloche method, was one of those handed over for decoration to the Genevan guillocheur Etienne Flamand after five leading jewelers of Hanau concluded an agreement with him and signed a binding contract on November 15, 1773.
4963MC718/ДПИ