Snuff Box Automatons. Snuff has been used by all classes for centuries and boxes could be simple to elaborately decorated. The best quality snuff boxes were sometimes fitted with musical movements and some would even have miniature automatons inserted to them. These are popular and rare and the most prestigious ones, in gold and other precious metals and gemstones, can command high prices. Below are some examples of snuff box automatons.
Below are some examples and price guides of antique snuff box automatons including a three compartment gold and enamel snuff box and a pictorial leopard snuff box.
ATTRIBUTED TO PIGUET ET MEYLAN. AN EXTREMELY FINE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD AND ENAMEL MUSICAL BOX AND SNUFF BOX WITH AUTOMATON AND CENTER-SECONDS WATCH, MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET
SWISS, GENEVA, NO. 1447, THE BOX ATTRIBUTED TO RÉMOND, LAMY, MERCIER & CO, CIRCA 1815
Movement: Manual, rectangular brass plates, bridge caliber, fixed barrel, cylinder escapement, fourth wheel in the centre for the centre seconds, disc musical movement set on the same plate with 21 tuned teeth engaging pins on both sides of the disc, automata driven from a wheel-cam set on the protruding arbour of the pinned disc, numbered 1447
Sold for HKD 1,250,000 at Christie’s in 2021
An Exceptional & Rare Three Compartment Gold & Enamel Snuff Box With Concealed Automaton & Timepiece Attributed To Piguet & Capt, The Enamel Scene Likely By Richter, circa 1800
Circa: 1800
rectangular gold box 82 mm x 36 mm, the left compartment with a multicolor gold automaton scene, the lower figure working at his bench, upper figure working on a vertical facade, rotating windmill against a polychrome enameled background, the automaton set in motion when the lid is lifted, the left fitted with a brass cylinder movement with three arm balance, enameled Arabic hour and seconds dials against a black enameled and finely engraved gold panel, the interior upper right corner of the main lid stamped with RI & C makers mark, the tops of the side panels with gold and enameled floral vases, central panel with polychrome scene depicting a young boy fishing accompanied by two young women, applied multicolor gold floral baskets and leaves on the corners, the sides and base decorated with translucent two tone blue enamel against a lozenge design, the borders with white, black and gold bands
Sold for US$50,000 at Heritage Auctions in 2016
A RARE GOLD, ENAMEL AND PEARL SNUFF BOX WITH ‘TEMPLE’ AUTOMATON, MUSIC, WATCH AND VINAIGRETTE, SENÉ & NEISSER, GENEVA, 1807/1808
of rectangular book form, the front cover painted with a tensely-poised leopard contemplating a cluster of grapes within a chased and enamelled vine tendril border set with pearl grapes, opening to reveal a magical temple dedicated to Music and chased in four-colour golds over an enamelled ground painted with luxuriant trees and sprawling rose bushes: as the music plays the spiral glass columns and architrave scintillate with changing colours, the sun spins in the pediment and in the centre, double doors open to reveal an articulated dancer and musician perform.
8.4cm., 3¼in. wide
Sold for 675,000 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2020
