An important George IV Two Colour 18ct Gold Snuff Box made in London in 1821 by John Northam.
An important George IV Two Colour 18ct Gold Snuff Box made in London in 1821 by John Northam.
375484
This exceptional box is rectangular in form with rounded corners and slightly incuse sides. The cover is centred with a chased flowerhead in a rectangular sablé cartouche, the ground, sides and base with chevron engine-turning Both the cover and base displays a chased acorn and oak leaf border. The box is fully hallmarked in the base and with the maker's mark, date letter and 18ct punch on the cover. Most interestingly, this box still possesses its original silk and velvet lined red leather presentation case. The box is in excellent condition and is of an outstanding weight.
John Northam registered his mark in 1793 and was active between then and 1835. He worked primarily as an outworker for the royal goldsmiths Rundell Bridge and Rundell, and also did repairs for Wakelin and Garrard, for whom he supplied boxes and carried out numerous repairs between 1793 and 1808 (see: Charles Truman, The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes, Los Angeles, 1991, 337). English goldsmithing of this period was characterised by richly chased varicoloured-gold decoration. In fact, Charles Truman comments that work produced by John Northam and Alexander James Strachan in this period, ‘display a confidence of both form and ornament hitherto unattained by English goldsmiths’ (Truman, p. 275).
An exceptional box by Northam, of 1813-14, is contained within the Royal Collection, acquired by Queen Mary and given to King George V on his 69th Birthday, 3rd June, 1934. The Victoria & Albert Museum also have an important engine turned gold box, by Northam, in their collection, which is inset with a portrait miniature of King George IV, when Prince Regent.
Length: 3.25 inches, 8.13 cm.
Width: 1.75 inches, 4.38 cm.
Height: 0.85 inches, 2.13 cm.
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. English goldsmithing of this period was characterised by richly chased varicoloured-gold decoration. In fact, Charles Truman comments that work produced by John Northam and Alexander James Strachan in this period, ‘display a confidence of both form and ornament hitherto unattained by English goldsmiths’ (Truman, p. 275).An exceptional box by Northam, of 1813-14, is contained within the Royal Collection, acquired by Queen Mary and given to King George V on his 69th Birthday, 3rd June, 1934. The Victoria & Albert Museum also have an important engine turned gold box, by Northam, in their collection, which is inset with a portrait miniature of King George IV, when Prince Regent.Length: 3.25 inches, 8.13 cm.Width: 1.75 inches, 4.38 cm.Height: 0.85 inches, 2.13 cm. ){kind=link}