Octagonal Empire Period Enamel Gold Box

This enchanting French gold snuff box is crafted of 18K rose, yellow and white gold with absolutely incredible attention to detail. Adorned with an intricate engraved Empire-period design, this stunning objet d'art features beautiful champlevé enameling of exceptional quality. Snuff boxes, also known as “tabatiéres”, have become some of the most desirable collectibles in recent years. The taking of snuff was a highly regarded social ritual among the European elite. Snuff box manufacturers were regarded as artists, creating and designing these elegant little boxes using fine metals, gems and other luxurious materials. They were among a gentleman's most expensive and elegant personal effects, and soon became collector's items. Wealthy and fashionable men would have a fair number of them and often offered them as gifts. 

The box is fully marked, including a maker's mark of "F&O" and a standard mark indicating the box is crafted of 18K gold.

Circa 1810 

3 9/16" wide x 2 7/16” deep x 9/16” high