AUCTION OF RUSSIAN AND EUROPEAN ART No. 13
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
We invite you to take part in the Classic Auction of the Antiqon marketplace, which will be held on 29 November 2025 at 12:00 Riga time at the Antiqon Art and Antiques Center, located at 52 Brīvības Street, Riga, Latvia.
The auction catalogue features works of Russian and European art of the 19th–20th centuries: paintings, icons, porcelain, silver, fine cast artworks, collectibles, jewelry, as well as pocket watches by leading European manufacturers.
Pre-auction exhibition
17.11.2025 - 27.11.2025
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LOT 39:
MUSICAL SNUFFBOX WITH MICROMOSAIC "PLINY&39;S DOVES" FRANCE, 1819–1838
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Start price:
€
5,000
Estimate :
€6,000 - €8,000
Buyer's Premium: 28%
More details
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Item Overview
Description:
A rare and exquisite musical snuffbox crafted from 18-karat gold, decorated with a unique micromosaic depicting "Pliny`s Doves, " one of the most recognizable motifs of classical antiquity. The composition, executed in the Roman micromosaic technique, depicts four doves perched on the rim of a gilded bowl and alludes to the famous mosaic found in Hadrian`s Villa in Tivoli. The image is framed by a rich blue border and placed on a lid richly embossed with floral motifs.
The box body is crafted with exceptional care: the sides are decorated with a floral frieze, a guilloche background, and ornamental inlays on the corners. Inside is the musical mechanism, which retains its original structure with fan-shaped reeds. Two keys are included for winding the mechanism and activating the melody.
Hallmarks: French export hallmark "rooster" with a right profile (18K gold, 1819-1838), hallmark in the form of a teapot spout (presumably an assay inspector`s or jewelry workshop`s hallmark).
Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.5 cm. Height 2 cm. Medallion: 3.5 x 2.5 mm.
Weight: 83 g
Condition: Good. The musical mechanism has been completely overhauled.
Origin: France, first half of the 19th century, export product for the European or Russian market.
