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Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 16, 1997

LOT 21

Unsigned, Geneva, circa 1805. "Le desespoir de Rodrigue et de Chimene" Very fine 18K gold and enamel snuff box.

CHF 14,000 - 18,000

USD 9,500 - 12,500

Double body rectangular with canted corners, the lid with an enamel panel painted with a scene depicting the distress of Rodrigue after the duel during which Chimene's father was killed, left and right borders with interlaced foliage finely chased over a matted ground. The front enamel panel painted with a riverside landscape, the plain azure enamelled side and back panels and the enamel panel on the base painted with a fine riverside landscape are flanked by chased flowers against a polished ground with azure champleve enamelled decoration. Canted corners engraved with fluted coltunns over a white champleve enamel ground. Prestige French hallmarks. Dim. 89 x 63 x 19 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 18

Spotted

Notes

The scene on the lid appears to feature both the despair of Rodrigue and Chimene in the celebrated tragedy written by Pierre Corneille. Rodrigue's father was insulted by Don Gormas, the father of his sweetheart Chimene; clue to his old age, he was unable to revenge himself for the offence. Rodrigue was therefore obliged to challenge Chimene's father to a dual and killed him.