$14,220
Fine French Bicolor Gold and Diamond-mounted Snuff Box, c. 1840, the yellow and rose gold rectangular box mounted to lid with a roundel containing a copy of a photograph of either Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar (1831-1896) or his successor, Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar (1853-1907), in frame of twenty-six irregular rose-cut prong-set diamonds, on ground of rocaille scrolls and flowerheads, accented with six further rose-cut diamonds in crimped collet mounts, sides and base of box with engine-turning, further scrolls and flowerheads, front of lid with a central lion mask, 3 1/2 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/4 in. Provenance: A Rhode Island estate. Presented to Richmond Pearson (1852-1923), who was elected U.S. Minister to Persia by President Theodore Roosevelt, and held this post from 1902-07. marks rubbed. lacking one pin holding top surface to box, with some minor evidence of this panel having been removed and then reattached at some point. Miniature a little loose in surround. natural flaws to diamonds. photograph does appear to be on fiber-based photographic paper, but is likely a reprint of a photographic print. collets likely added later. gold tests as at least 14kt.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2011-10-14
