Lot 217: A RARE ITALIAN GOLD PRESENTATION SNUFF-BOX SET WITH A MINIATURE

by Musy, Turin, circa 1860, marked with the Turin town mark, the miniature by Luigi Gandolfi (1810-1869), signed 'Gandolfi.' (lower right), the flange engraved with inventary no. 'TU., N o 132'
Rectangular box of wavy rounded outlines, the cover centred by a glazed oval miniature depicting King Vittorio Emanuele II of Sardinia (1820-1878), in red-piped dark uniform with silver-figured red collar, silver epaulettes, aiguillettes and buttons, decorated with the gold jewel and breast-star of the Royal Sardinian Order of the Most Sacred Annunciation, the 1833 Military Medal of Savoy and another medal, brown dyed moustache, beard and hair, cloudy sky background within a plain gold mount, the matted gold box all over stamped and engraved with scolling foliage and flowers, the base engraved with the arms of Savoy a Royal crown above and hung with the chain of the order of the Most Sacred Annunciation, plain gold rims; original fitted red plush case, the silk-lined inside of the lid gilt-stamped 'MUSY. PERE. ET. FILS TURIN' around the Royal arms of Sardinia, and the outside of the case gilt-stamped with initials 'V.E' a royal crown above
3 3/4 in. (96 mm.) wide (2)

Purportedly from the Cabinet of Empress Eugénie of France, Tuileries Palace, Paris, inv. no. 132.
Christie's, Geneva, 14 May 1985, lot 157.

PROPERTY FROM A EUROPEAN ESTATE

Vittorio Emanuel II, son of Carlo Alberto of Savoy-Carignan (see lot 209), was King of Sardinia 1849-1861 and the first King of freshly united Italy 1861-1878.
A larger miniature of the King by Gandolfi is illustrated on the front cover of the exhibition catalogue Miniature Sabaude, Turin, Unione Industriale Torino, 1996.
The Musy family - Antonio, Giuseppe and Vincenzo - were descendants of a long line of Turinese jewellers and watchmakers. Their ancestor Giacomo (Jacques) Musy, born in Annecy, settled in Turin and opened a workshop in 1707. Giacomo and Claudio Musy were appointed court jewellers to Louis de Savoy, Prince de Carignan, in 1765. The firm is still in existence.

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium