95th Auction

2017/5/6

Lot 135

Attributed to Jean-Abraham Lissignol, Geneva, 66 x 45 x 17 mm, 58 g, circa 1800
An exquisite Swiss gold enamel Bonbonniére with fruit still life
Case.: 18k gold/polychrome enamel/split pearls.
This is an exquisite little box, a horizontal oval with slightly concave walls in imitation of a fruit basket.
The fruit still life with peaches, grapes, cherries, apples and walnuts is a true masterpiece. The horizontal oval medallion on the lid is framed by a border of pearl-studded Champlevé enamelling semblance of a wicker basket; similarly, the walls and the base have an engine-turned pattern that is covered by translucent red enamel with opaque light blue zigzag ribbons in imitation of basket weave.
Even though the enamel painting is not signed, it is fairly obviously Lissignol’s work. The extremely fine strokes of the brush - made by a single hair - in combination with the pointillistic technique are typical for his work.
In June 2016 Sothebys in New York sold a singing bird box by Jacob Frisard in a case by Moulinié Bautte & Cie, Genève, which was almost identical in shape and painting style. That box was one of five known boxes that are very similar in shape and are part of important collections such as the Musee du Louvre - Bernard Pin states about the box in the Louvre that its enamel work is probably the work of Geneva enamel painter Abraham Lissignol.
Jean-Abraham Lissignol was born in Geneva in 1749. He was the pupil and partner of Jean-Marc Roux and later was apprenticed in Paris. He was one of the most important enamel miniature painters and was specialised on snuffboxes and watch cases. He worked for Jaquet-Droz, Leschot, Rochat, John Rich and Jean-Georges Rémond & Company He died in Plainpalais in 1819.

estimated
65.000100.000 €
Price realized
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