Ellis Finch
Head of Knightsbridge Silver Department
Lot 30
A George III gold and enamelled single draw spy glass unmarked, possibly James Morisset
28 July 2021, 11:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £6,120 inc. premium
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A George III gold and enamelled single draw spy glass
unmarked, possibly James Morisset
The cylindrical gold body inset with three enamel panels painted en grisaille on a brown ground with deities including Flora, separated by panels of wavy translucent blue and opaque white lines within ovoid guilloche borders in green and white and reeded bands, the single gold draw with a translucent blue and white opaque enamel band around the reeded eye piece, with a black shagreen carrying case, length 5.6cm, extended 8cm.
The cylindrical gold body inset with three enamel panels painted en grisaille on a brown ground with deities including Flora, separated by panels of wavy translucent blue and opaque white lines within ovoid guilloche borders in green and white and reeded bands, the single gold draw with a translucent blue and white opaque enamel band around the reeded eye piece, with a black shagreen carrying case, length 5.6cm, extended 8cm.
Footnotes
The present lot is from a series of similarly decorated 'toys' from the late 18th century: the striking enamel cameo panels set against the finely engraved and prettily enamelled grounds within formal borders. For a box decorated in this way, see Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, cat no 110, p 318 (Los Angeles 1991).
The enamel work is often attributed to James Morisset, Louis and Simon Augustin Toussaint, William Charron and Gabriel Wirman; the former registered several gold marks between 1770 and 1789. James Morisset and Louis Toussaint appear in the Parker and Wakelin Workmen's Ledger from 1767 as supplying enamelled work.
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