#objets de vertu

Design and genuine handmade by Yvonne de Wit of Studio98 in Napier, South Africa.

A pearl-set 'Chinese Market' gold and enamel 'form' snuff box, Sené & Neisser, Geneva, 1801-1804

the lid painted as a watchful leopard with graduated seed pearl tail, reclining gracefully in a flowery meadow, the foreground with tiny pearl grapes transitioning into a pearl border, the base painted with a serpent gliding towards a cluster of ripe peaches and jasmine, within a white, black and green taille d'épargne enamel leaf and flower border, the sides further painted with flowers, peaches, pears and strawberries on a blue enamel ground, maker's mark only, in a leather case.

A rare hardstone appliqué snuff box with two-colour gold mounts, ** Hoffman, probably Berlin, circa 1770

rectangular, the lid and body of carefully-chosen translucent banded agate, applied on the lid with a cluster of brightly-coloured hardstone and stained glass ladybirds and beetles confronting a fly within a delicate gold tracery of leaves, ribbons and turquoise flowers, the thumbpiece centred with a radiating star, wavy gold mount and footrim, the front with a battle between an elaborately carved stag-beetle and two flies, the sides with bright butterflies dancing on the creamy waves of agate, the base signed in a curve of the stone: Hoffman F., in a fitted 19th century velvet-lined leather case.

Hallebardier, Germany, around 1860.

Figure in silver, baroque pearls, gold, mother-of-pearl, imperial porphyry, lapis lazuli, rosso antico, garnets and sapphires.

Lizard, Spain, late 16th century.

Enamelled gold pendant, baroque pearls, emeralds and rubies.

Dromadaire, Francfort ou Dresde, vers 1700-1710. Entourage de Johann Melchior Dinglinger (Ulm 1664-Dresde 1731).

The camel consists of two baroque pearls, one forming the head and the other the body, mounted on all four legs and the neck in chiseled and gilded silver. Two small diamonds form the eyes. The camel is fixed on a rectangular base in later lapis lazuli.