At the close of the 1750s the decorative motifs of rocaille and sweeping foliate scrolls so emblematic of the rococo were abandoned gradually in favour of motifs derived from classical architecture – such as the laurel leaf garlands and festoons, the fluting and key pattern seen on this snuffbox. At the same date Parisian ébénistes also used these architectural motifs for the ormolu mounts of furniture, as may be seen depicted in the portrait of the influential patron of the arts Ange Laurent de La Live de Jully (1725–1779) by Jean Baptiste Greuze (1725–1805). In a letter dated 1 May 1763, Friedrich Melchior, Baron von Grimm (1723–1807) observed: ‘For some years now the ornaments and forms of the Antique have been sought after, taste has gained considerably thereby and the fashion for them has become so general that everything is made in the Greek manner … our fops would think themselves disgraced if they carried a snuffbox not à la greque.’ Different-coloured golds are used to enrich the finely chased oval medallions on the lid and base, and also to highlight specific details such as the ribbon-ties. 

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