Snuifdoos van goud, ovaal en geheel geëmailleerd. Op het deksel en de bodem Chinoiserieën, op de wanden panelen met takken en vogels c. 1900 - 1910

This oval gold snuffbox, completely enameled with Chinoiserie scenes, is all about details, isn’t it? It’s covered in panels of branches and birds. The anonymous maker of this piece understood how the physical qualities of enamel—it’s smoothness, the way the light can play across it—could create something that feels alive and precious. The blue enamel, thick and opaque, is so striking against the gold. It's an interesting choice, that blue, like a deliberate break in the color story, and the way it outlines the scenes, it's like the whole box is vibrating! Look closely at the patterns, those repeated motifs on the sides. Notice how each one seems slightly different? This isn’t mass-produced. This is a human hand, making tiny, unique decisions over and over. It reminds me of folk art, where the personality of the artist shines through every little variation. It's as if the artist is having a conversation with the materials. Much like the approach of a painter like Raoul Dufy, the whole piece dances.