Artwork Page for Snuff Box (Tabatière)

Details / Information for Snuff Box (Tabatière)

Snuff Box (Tabatière)

1777–78
fabricated by

Charles Le Bastier

(French)
Culture
France, 18th century
Medium
gold and enamel
Measurements
Overall: 2 x 3.4 cm (13/16 x 1 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Edward B. Greene 1957.406
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Not only did the design of a snuff box carry important social and political implications, proper snuff taking etiquette, outlined in 18th-century publications, also communicated status.

Description

This box’s black and white design imitates a rare type of agate patterned with black veins that look like the branches of a tree or aquatic plant. Enamel that simulated agate was popular around 1775–80, evoking an 18th-century French interest in natural curiosities, mineralogy, and botany. Charles Le Bastier himself made at least seven boxes using this motif between 1775 and 1779.

Snuff Box (Tabatière)

1777–78

Charles Le Bastier

(French)
France, 18th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.