- Brand: Charles Colins Söhne
- Circa: 1800
- Model: Snuff box
- Reference: N/A
- Calibre: N/A
- Movement: N/A
- Material: 18ct yellow gold
- Features/complications: Enamel pastoral scene
- Description: 18ct yellow gold and enamel snuff box by Charles Colins Söhne, Hanau, Germany. The lid features a polychrome enamel idyllic pastoral scene and is signed in the corner CB for Johann Daniel Berneaud. The case is in a style very typical of Charles Colins Söhne with the enamel plaque framed with a champlevé enamel border and chased foliate decoration on a rich blue guilloche enamel background. The foliate decoration continues along the sides and base of the box, with the sides featuring blue opaque enamel and yellow gold Piqué posé pattern. Makers mark “CCS” in a lozenge for Charles Colins Söhne.
- Case dimensions: 4.5 x 9 cm
- Accessories: N/A
- Bracelet/strap: N/A
- Web reference: 1974
Essay: Johann Daniel Berneaud (1773 - 1861) trained as an enamel painter in Geneva and worked with Antoine Carteret for some time. Around 1814 he returned to his native town of Hanau and worked for several manufacturers of gold goods. Berneaud decorated a number of gold boxes with his paintings; he favoured allegorical motifs and flowers. It is said that Goethe was one of Berneaud’s admirers. This was also the time when Berneaud began receiving commissions from the Turkish sultanate.