The oval reserves on lid and base have been enamelled en plein en grisaille against a pink ground with vignettes of children loosely inspired by engravings after François Boucher (1703 1770). While undoubtedly intended to allude to cameos, there is no attempt at trompe l’oeil illusionism. Such en grisaille work remained popular for a decade; however, as the years passed it tended to be executed on plaques and then inset onto the box rather than being painted directly onto the surface: compare the present box and another from our collection (Инв. № 6349PC55/ДПИ)
Unlike the preceding snuffboxes made in Stockholm and Geneva, where the decorative elements – whether putti, flowers or ribbons – are rendered in basse taille enamel, on this example made in Paris the role played by the enamel has been reversed and instead used to define the negative spaces of the design: offsetting the strapwork pattern on the present snuffbox or the trophy on the lid on the following box by Pierre André Barbier.

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