ANTIQUE GEORGE III TORTOISESHELL ORMOLU AND ENAMEL SNUFF BOX

AN EXTREMELY RARE GEORGE III ROCOCO PRESSED TORTOISESHELL ORMOLU AND BILSTON OR BATTERSEA ENAMEL SNUFF BOX

This exceptional George III rococo pressed tortoiseshell snuff box is decorated all over with C scrolls and trailing flowers over a base decoration of four brick edged triangles, the thumb piece is in the form of a scrolling shell pattern, while the scalloped hinge is beautifully made, inside the lid of the box is a superb piece of English enamel with spandrel finishing in each of the corners.

The scene is English pastoral with a milkmaid milking a cow while sheep lay down around her and a man standing to one side takes a drink. She is by a lake and weir with a rocky outcrop to her left, in the distance is another cow and more sheep while further up river is a fisherman fishing with rod and line with a house on the opposite bank, with exceptional quality painting of incredible detail.