and enamelled gold snuff box, with marks resembling to the date letter of Paris (1760/61), the charge and discharge marks of Eloy Brichard, 1756-1762, inventory number 146 and a rubbed maker's mark, with later French control marks London Christie's. The description on the Christie's catalogue was rather strange. Is it or is it not a Louis XV style box? The buyer probably did not ask himself such question as the charge and discharge marks on this box, estimated between £ 5,000 and 7,000, seemed convincing enough to induce him to believe that it was truly made during the 18th Century. Christie's cautiousness regarding such description remains a mystery. |