A shimmering masterwork of carved chrysoprase; chased, pierced and engraved gold; set hardstones and diamonds with foil backing, this snuffbox is far grander than the stuff it once held.
This remarkable snuffbox is one small part of a collection of snuffboxes previously belonging to Frederick II, the Great, of Prussia. The box itself is green chrysoprase which was carved from a single stone. In and of itself a masterpiece, the base was then adorned with a setting of hardstones and diamonds which have been colored by being backed with pale pink, green and canary foils.
The sturdy stone chrysoprase was much admired by Frederick. This rare stone was mined in Silesia--the first territory to Prussia by Frederick in a conquest in 1740. Before Frederick’s death, as he lay ailing, he asked that his collection of jewels and boxes would be laid out before him so that he might view them all.
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