Lot 101: PETER BALTHASAR VON MURALT (SWISS, 1746-1814)

PETER BALTHASAR VON MURALT (SWISS, 1746-1814)
A boy, in blue coat, yellow striped white waistcoat and knotted white cravat, with curly blonde hair
signed and dated 'B. vMuralt 1800.' (lower left)
on ivory
2½ in. (63 mm.) diam., gilt-metal mount within wood frame

Estate of Marie Eschmann (+ 1925).

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.
An old German inscription on the backing paper of the frame indicates the provenance and suggests that the miniature may come from the Ott or Muralt family.
Signed miniatures by von Muralt, an officer from Zurich who excelled as an amateur miniaturist and musician, are extremely rare. One, of 1790, was sold Sothebys, Geneva, 11 November 1981, lot 282, and one of 1797 is illustrated in J.-C. Genoud (ed.), 100 ans de miniatures suisses 1780-1880, Geneva, 1999, p. 96 fig. 130.