Joseph's Dream" Piguet & Meylan

"Joseph's Dream" Piguet & Meylan, Geneva, No. 4191, the box attributed to Jean-Georges Reymond & Cie, the enamel attrib-uted to Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont. Made circa 1820. Magnificent and very rare, 18K gold, enamel and pearl-set, musical automaton snuff box with two tunes and concealed center-seconds watch, made for the Chinese market. Accompanied by a red morocco and gold tooled leather Desoutter fitted box. Notes A similar box, No.4189, was sold by Antiquorum, “The Sandberg Watch Collection”, March 31, 2001, Lot 215. The very finely painted enamel panel set into the top of this box can be attributed stylistically to Jean-Francois Victor Dupont. The scene depicts Joseph interpreting his dreams to his parents Jacob and Rebecca with his jealous half-brothers looking on. This resulted in Joseph's pretended murder and his being sold into slavery with passing Egyptians. Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont (1785-1863) Probably the finest painter on enamel working in Geneva at the time. His work included portraits of distinguished figures (King George IV, Henry VI etc.), as well as boxes and particularly watches for the Chinese Market. For these he frequently worked with Ilbery as well as Piguet & Meylan. He was able to paint a group of figures posed on the same plane without giving an impression of crowding. His distinctive palette may well be due to the fact that he mixed his own colors. Piguet & Meylan Both originally from the village of Le Chenit in the Vallée de Joux, Isa