English Queen Anne tortoiseshell and silver piqué snuff box - circa 1710

oval tortoiseshell ...

English Queen Anne tortoiseshell and silver piqué snuff box - circa 1710

oval tortoiseshell snuff box, with silver sides and concealed silver hinge, the lid slightly domed with floral and foliate scrolls piqué clouté, piqué posé and mother of pearl around an architectural structure; in the middle a male figure and on the sides two winged female caryatids. Tortoiseshell base. Antique tortoiseshell boxes and jewelry are sometimes decorated by the inlay of tiny gold or silver points.
Piqué work was introduced by Neapolitan jeweler Laurentini in the middle of the 17th Century, popular in France where it was known as piqué d'or and then was brought into England with the late 17th Century immigration of the skilled Huguenot craftsmen. Heigh x width x depth 1.1 x 8.2 x 6.4 cm. Weight 53.5 gr. Item condition grading: **** good (without cracking or chips; no apparent losses to inlay, minor scratching). Accompanied by Ce.S.Ar. Centro Studi Archeometrici certificate of authenticity (pre-1947).