RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles

RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles

RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles

RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles in 16k. All items and photos are the express property of Antiques & Uncommon Treasure. No reproduction without prior written consent. We'll be sending out sale notices and special deals to our'Favorites' customers.

Magnificent rare museum piece, this! I've written much about the layered varnish and paint decorative manner favored by Marie-Antoinette, and developed by the Brothers Martin, afterward known simply as "Vernis Martin", and this is a masterpiece of that era and style. Most interesting, apart from the Louis XV to XVI paintings is the fact that the box is entirely made of agate, has either a 16k gold or very deeply coated 16k gold on silver mount (acid test at 16k), and is made in the manner of the Prussian/German agate boxes of that era. This one a patch box or patch and snuff, 2 compartments up top with separately hinged lids which have a continuous painting in miniature of the Palace at Versailles. Carriage of the King, horse-mounted guards leading its arrival.

The side panels are each painted, and the bottom shows another superb scene of the same Royal carriage arriving at a country Palace - possibly d'Amboise though I'm not certain. I've been there, and it looks like the small chapel in distance within which lies remains of Leonardo d'Vinci.

The art work is incredible - tiny portraits, impossibly fine detail. And surely has been a Royal possession, such is the quality and condition. I've never seen Vernis Martin accomplished on stone - agate in this case, reminding one of the Idar-Oberstein specimen boxes and goods. Very good to excellent condition for age and type.

Remarkable, the state of preservation. From such an estate comes this museum piece. There are no chips, no cracks nor hairline in the agate panels, the outer 2 of which are arched.

The frame, which I still feel is probably silver with a very heavy coating of 16k gold rather than solid 16k, has a very old small solder on one corner, but is otherwise excellent. The paintings, 9 panels in all, are just magnificent, little if any loss at all, even on the bottom one. As if it's been on a brace mount for museum display, and never rested on its bottom.

Quite remarkable in all ways. We're easy to deal with. Our fine inventory is very important. And your ranking of our performance is also very important!

We wish to keep our 4.9 - 5 star ratings in all categories. We always insure our items BUT, more importantly, pack them extremely well knowing that most are not replaceable.

Please remember that when leaving DSR ratings. Icon here or above to see more of our inventory, offerings and venues. We have a HUGE assortment of the finest antiques to be found online, all at your fingertips with Antiques & Uncommon Treasure. _gsrx_vers_631 GS 6.9.8b6 (631). This item is in the category "Antiques\Silver\Sterling Silver (.

The seller is "antiquesuncommontreasure" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.
RARE 18th Century Agate Patch or Snuff Box, Vernis Martin Paintings, Versailles


Homepage    Map    Contact Form    Privacy Policy Agreement    Terms of service