Caption

Snuffbox, mythological scenes: Venus, Cupid, Mars, putti. Oval snuffbox with irregular edges; on the lid within a smooth border a scene depicting a seated man and a semi-nude woman glancing into a mirror while Cupid stands before them handing the man a swaddled child—possibly alluding to the romance of Venus and Mars. Around, in rhomboidal reserves, scenes of fighting putti, Regency ornaments and intertwined dolphins; on the bottom reserve playing putti, above them a duel scene, below two knights in a galley; on the sides ships and decorations of Regency ornaments. Gilded interior. 1720s–1730s, France. Smoking accessory. Height 6.5 cm; width 5 cm; weight 49.5 g., A decorative metal box with an octagonal, scalloped shape rests on a smooth light gray surface; the box has a raised ornate lid divided into radiating panels filled with intricate embossed scenes and motifs, giving varied textures of carved relief and smooth bands. The metal shows a silvery color with darker gray areas in the recesses, and subtle warm highlights along the edges. The lid’s central panel contains a clustered ornamental design, while surrounding panels display figurative and architectural reliefs. The box’s rim and hinge area are visible along one side, and the object casts a soft, diffuse shadow on the gray background.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A09_215

License type

Rights managed

Available size

28.4Mb (1.2Mb) / 10.5in x 10.5in / 3152 x 3152 (300dpi)

Keywords

Snuffbox mythological scenes Venus Cupid Mars putti Oval snuffbox irregular edges lid within smooth border scene depicting seated man semi-nude woman glancing mirror Cupid stands them handing man swaddled child alluding romance rhomboidal reserves scenes fighting putti Regency ornaments intertwined dolphins bottom reserve playing putti them duel scene two knights galley sides ships decorations Gilded interior 1720s–1730s France Smoking accessory Height 6.5 cm width 5 cm weight 49.5 g decorative metal box octagonal scalloped shape rests smooth light gray surface box raised ornate lid divided radiating panels filled intricate embossed motifs giving varied textures carved relief smooth bands metal silvery color darker gray areas recesses subtle warm highlights edges lid’s central panel contains clustered ornamental design surrounding panels display figurative architectural reliefs box’s rim hinge area visible side object casts soft diffuse shadow gray background.