Snuifdoos van goud, in de vorm van een ton c. 1768 - 1769

Curator: I'm immediately struck by the delicate craftsmanship. There's a certain luxurious sweetness about this piece, like something Marie Antoinette might have slipped into her pocket. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is a gold snuffbox, fashioned in the shape of a barrel. The work is attributed to Jean-Joseph Barrière and dates back to around 1768 or 1769. Curator: A snuffbox! Of course. It all clicks. The miniature genre paintings, the cherubs lounging amongst the grapes – it speaks to a very particular kind of aristocratic leisure. Editor: The materiality is crucial here. Gold, as a medium, elevates the object beyond mere functionality. The box is an emblem of status, a performance of wealth. The Rococo style amplifies this sense of opulence, with its emphasis on ornamentation. Curator: Opulence, yes, but it also has a playful quality. It's like a tiny world contained within a gilded cage. I’m thinking how it felt to hold something like this, a sort of concentrated delight, easily concealed. What thoughts or aromas did it hide? Editor: I agree; it’s a microcosm of aristocratic pleasure. Note also the attention to structural detail, like the staves that seem almost woven together. It echoes the formal gardens and manicured landscapes popular at the time. It's artifice upon artifice. Curator: I find that fascinating, this urge to refine and contain the natural world in a golden barrel. Editor: We've really managed to unpack the layered elegance of this piece today! Curator: Absolutely, I feel as though I have sniffed something special just by discussing this piece.