Early 19th century micromosaic and gold mounted bloodstone box

Date	1810
Period	Early 19th century
Origin	Rome
Medium	gold, Bloodstone
Dimensions	9.5 x 5.1 x 2.2 cm (3³/₄ x 2 x 0⁷/₈ inches)
Gallery	S.J. Phillips Ltd

Description
Technical

Weight: 168.5g, the mosaic, Rome c.1810, the box probably Vienna c.1820,
of cut-corner rectangular outline, the rectangular mosaic to the gold cover based on a painting by Johann Wenzel Peter and depicting four dogs hunting a wild boar in the open, a broken tree trunk behind right, a river to the left and mountains beyond, bordered by bands of boldly chased and engraved floral and foliate sprays, bright cut dot edging, similar to the lid sides and scallop shell thumbpiece, the straight sided bloodstone base with reeded gold rim, the flange with presentation inscription: 'From Charles Earl Whitworth, to Charles Chetwynd Earl Talbot. Jany. 1822'.

Date: 1810
Period: Early 19th century
Origin: Rome
Medium: gold, Bloodstone
Dimensions: 9.5 x 5.1 x 2.2 cm (3³/₄ x 2 x 0⁷/₈ inches)
Provenance: The artist, Peter, mentions the painting in a letter to the mosaicist Giacomo Raffaelli, indicating that he had prepared reduced versions of it and other paintings for the use of mosaicists. Whether Raffaelli took up the offer is not known; however, the composition proved to be popular and was copied by several mosaicists, including Antonio Aguatti and Tomaso Calandrelli.
Charles Whitworth (1752-1825) pursued a diplomatic career that included postings in Poland, Russia, Denmark and France. He was created an Earl in 1815.
Charles Chetwynd (1777-1849) succeeded his father as 3rd Earl Talbot in 1793. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland between 1817 and 1821.

Categories: Jewellery