Lot 205: A SWISS ENAMELLED GOLD SNUFF-BOX

by Sené & Détalla, marked, Geneva, circa 1800, the enamel by Jean-Louis Richter (1766-1841), signed 'Richter' (lower left), later struck with two French post-1893 import marks for gold
Octagonal box, the cover enamelled en plein with a view of a fancy classical landscape with the myth of Io, featuring Mercury, Io the heifer, Juno and her peacock, within a black enamelled gold band with taille d'épargne gold decoration in blue and white borders, the base identically framed and centred by a guilloché panel enamelled in translucent blue and black with a pattern of ovolos, the four side panels identically enamelled and framed by white enamel bands flanked by elongated blue, white and black enamelled lozenges, the four canted corners enamelled in black and engraved en taille d'épargne with gold amphoras parcel-enamelled in white, the lid with bright-cut rims
3 9/16 in. (91 mm.) wide

Io, daughter of the king of Argos, was seduced by Jupiter disguised as a cloud to conceal this further infidelity from his wife Juno. But the latter was not deceived so Jupiter changed Io into a heifer. Juno cunningly asked for her as a gift which her husband could not refuse. When Juno handed the heifer over to the hundred-eyed giant Argus to guard, Jupiter sent his messenger Mercury to recover Io. Mercury lulled watchful Argus and cut off his head. Juno then took Argus's hundred eyes and, as a memento, set them into the tail of the peacock.

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