Snuffbox 1760 - 1761

Editor: Here we have a snuffbox created around 1760 or '61, crafted from gold and other metals by Charles Le Bastier. It is so small and delicate, adorned with tiny Oriental scenes, and I'm struck by the detail on such a small scale. How would you interpret this little marvel? Curator: Let's begin with its materiality. The predominant use of gold invites immediate attention. Observe how the craftsman juxtaposes matte and burnished surfaces to create texture, giving an almost three-dimensional feel to what is, fundamentally, a two-dimensional decoration. What purpose does this contrast serve in your view? Editor: It makes the miniature landscapes pop, I suppose, creating depth in these shallow reliefs. So you're saying the appeal is in the technical mastery? Curator: Precisely! Notice also the horizontal lines chased into the gold that serves as the field on which these landscapes are situated. These striations are purely formal, an organizational principle. They echo, and reinforce, the horizontal emphasis in the miniature landscape compositions, right? Do you feel the imagery itself is secondary? Editor: I think I see what you mean. It's not necessarily about the scenes themselves, but the shapes and lines, and how they create a harmonious whole? Curator: Precisely. It's a study in Rococo sensibility. Editor: That’s fascinating! I had immediately considered its potential narrative value. But your approach highlights its success in pure design. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Remember, sometimes the object communicates more about itself than its representational content might initially suggest.