99th Auction
2019/5/11
Lot 219
Bessière & Schneider, Geneva, 62 x 44 x 11 mm, 47 g, circa 1805
An exquisite Swiss gold enamel Bonbonniére with fruit still life, studded with half pearls
Case.: 18k gold, polychrome enamel, split pearls, maker's mark "BS" separated by a spear (Bessière & Schneider, Geneva).
This delicate little box in the shape of a cloud is framed by a pearl border. The hinged lid is exquisitely painted with a still life with fruits: peaches, grapes, apples and pears spill from an inclined basket. Sides and base are engraved with foliage scrolls; the sides also have two narrow Champlevé bands. The centre of the base is decorated with radial engine-turned pattern.
The partnership of Bessière & Schneider only lasted a short time; they were active from 1805 to 1808 in Geneva. During this period the produced a small number of exceptionally high-quality enamel objects and specialised in enamel boxes decorated with flowers, animals or fruit baskets.
A very similar box is part of the Khalili Collection, which owns several pieces by Bessière & Schneider. Illustrated and described in "Enamels of the World 1700-2000, The Khalili Collections", by Haydn Williams, 2009.
An exquisite Swiss gold enamel Bonbonniére with fruit still life, studded with half pearls
Case.: 18k gold, polychrome enamel, split pearls, maker's mark "BS" separated by a spear (Bessière & Schneider, Geneva).
This delicate little box in the shape of a cloud is framed by a pearl border. The hinged lid is exquisitely painted with a still life with fruits: peaches, grapes, apples and pears spill from an inclined basket. Sides and base are engraved with foliage scrolls; the sides also have two narrow Champlevé bands. The centre of the base is decorated with radial engine-turned pattern.
The partnership of Bessière & Schneider only lasted a short time; they were active from 1805 to 1808 in Geneva. During this period the produced a small number of exceptionally high-quality enamel objects and specialised in enamel boxes decorated with flowers, animals or fruit baskets.
A very similar box is part of the Khalili Collection, which owns several pieces by Bessière & Schneider. Illustrated and described in "Enamels of the World 1700-2000, The Khalili Collections", by Haydn Williams, 2009.
Sold
estimated
37.000—40.000 €
Price realized
36.300 €