Four Lovely Egg shaped tabatieres. Two are white, one with beaded gold rims and flower clasp. Each egg is hand-painted with blue ribbons and purple and yellow flowers and gold highlights. The second egg-shaped box has geometric gold rims and a bow clasp with blue, yellow, red, green and gold hand- painted flowers. Both tabatieres have gold flowers painted on the interior and are verso marked "Limoges France, Porcelaine decoree a la main Paris-Style". The third is blue, also with gold beaded rims and a flower clasp. Has been hand-painted with a bouquet of spring flowers. The final egg tabatiere is white with royal blue flowers and decorations, and gold highlights. Verso marked "Limoges-france, Limoges France Peint main PV". All are apprx 2-1/2".
Creativity was enhanced to make tableware articles such as plates, platters and pitchers as well as fancy objects like bonbonieres, vases, etc. Among these the snuff box, Tabatiere in French, became an immediate success. A century earlier a diplomat called Nicot introduced tobacco in France. During that time one did not smoke tobacco, it was snuffed instead. The snuff was wrapped in small linen bags and placed in leather pouches or silver, gold, wooden and ivory boxes. All of these materials were difficult to decorate or very expensive. Porcelain rapidly gained its place among these materials and soon thousands of different shapes of Tabatieres were made of porcelain. The parts of the box were assembled with a setting made of brass. Gold or silver latches were used to complement the setting.
150/250 Sold $207.00
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