Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Chrysprase Snuffbox, 1765

Snuffbox
Berlin
1765
The Victoria & Albert Museum

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.

Mastery of Design: The Frederick the Great Snuffbox, 1775

Snuffbox, 1775
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Frederick the Great amassed an amazing collection of uniquen and valuable snuffboxes. This is one of the most impressive. This cartouche-shaped snuffbox is comprised of seventeen panels of bloodstone mounted in a cagework of gold and set with a profusion of diamonds, some of which are colored yellow and others foiled.

The box's cover is set with the image of a vase, colored to resemble porphyry. In the vase is set a bouquet of stylized flowers comprised of emeralds, rubies and diamonds. This is bordered by diamonds set in gold and sprigs of flowers.

The walls of the box are divided into six sections set with sprays of flowers. The base is encrusted in a similar fashion with a smaller bouquet of cut flowers.

Frederick the Great of Prussia was a great admirer of the arts. Of his many gold boxes, some of them he designed himself. He carried a box at all times; in fact, one is even said to have saved his life by deflecting a bullet during the battle of Kunersdorf in 1759.

This box by an unknown artist is based on a design by Jean Guillaume George Krüger--a London-born artist who was summoned to Berlin in 1753.

Mastery of Design: A Majestic Snuffbox, 1765

Snuffbox
Berlin
1765
The Victoria & Albert Museum

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.