Luxury Gadgets

Chrysoprase Snuffbox

March 5th, 2006

This oval snuffbox is made from chrysoprase, a green variety of quartz that was used extensively in Europe until the middle of the last century. The box and cover are carved from single pieces of chrysoprase and are set with diamond, gold and hardstone scrolls, vines and flowers. The diamonds are set over pink, green and yellow foil. The sides and the base are similarly applied with relief hardstones and gems. Chrysoprase was a particular favourite of Frederick II, the Great of Prussia. It used to be mined in Silesia, then a part of Prussia, but fell out of favour once the Silesian deposits were exhausted. Today, most of the world’s supply of chrysoprase comes from Australia.
It is recorded that Frederick owned eight chrysoprase snuffboxes and that this one was presented by Frederick to his brother Augustus Wilhelm. The design is probably by Jean Guillaume George Kruger, a London-trained designer who moved to Berlin in 1753 and designed a series of snuffboxes in the Prussian royal collection. This particular box dates from around 1755.

Entry Filed under: Art & Music