Gabriel-Raoul Morel (1764-1832) Marked with the Third Standard and Excise Marks for Gold, Paris, 1819-1838. "à cage" snuff box in chiseled yellow gold with polychrome enamel panels decorated with chinoiserie. Rectangular in shape with rounded corners, the lid, base and bands are set with enamel plaques painted with Chinese scenes, inside brilliant-cut engraved gold frames, the four engraved lateral pillars support columns with acanthus plinths and capitals. Signs of the essay and the goldsmith, inside handwritten note with the origin (8.5x4x6 cm) (minor defects and minor losses)   Provenance: Lot 525 - Auction 7806 Lord St. Helens and Sir William FitzHerbert The Collections of a Diplomat and a Courtier, Christie's, London, 22 January 2009 Alleyne FitzHerbert, 1st Baron St Helens (1753-1839). From there, by descent from Agnes FitzHerbert to her daughter Judith (according to the attached manuscript note).   A very similar snuffbox made by Gabriel-Raoul Morel, with enamel inserts painted with domestic scenes with domestic scenes according to, or in the manner of, Teniers was sold for GBP 112,500 at Christie's on 3 July 2019, Lot 55 - Auction 17197   Gabriel-Raoul Morel (1764-1832), who left his mark as early as 1797, is first mentioned by Douet in 1806, although a Morel, whose name is unknown, is mentioned in 1804. Douet gives Morel's address as 5 Place Thionville. The large presence of Napoleonic references in his boxes suggests his role as supplier to the imperial court. Together with Vachette and Fossin, Morel is counted among the most important French producers of gold boxes of the first half of the 19th century. Six of his works are held in the Gilbert Collection, as documented by Charles Truman in The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, Los Angeles, 1991 (Nos. 40, 44, 45, 46, and 47)

Estimation € 20,000 - 24,000

Adjugé € 33,000