A LOUIS XVI GOLD-MOUNTED POUDRE D'ECAILLE SNUFF-BOX

BY JEAN PARIS, PARIS, 1776-1777

Details

Oval, the white poudre d'ecaille panels applied with scattered stars and pellets, the mounts chased with foliage, the thumbpiece with military trophy, the cover centred by a medallion of plaited hairs framed by a ribbon-tied laurel wreath, marked inside cover, base and flange: charge, date-letter (n), maker's mark and decharge on flange
3.5/9 in. (8,5 cm.) wide
Gross weight: 4 oz. 19 dwt. (154 gr.)
Lot Essay

This snuff-box is by family tradition a gift of Marchesa di Priero, Polissena Teresa Gamba della Perosa (1764-1844) to Maria Barthelemon (1749-1799).
Polly Young (also known as Mary Young, Maria Young, Polly Barthélemon and Maria Barthélemon), was an English soprano, composer and pianist, born in a musical family of organist, composers and singers. A child prodigy, Polly started performing at the age of six in Ireland where she remained studying music while performing on stage in Dublin.
In 1762 she returned to London to make her debut at the Covent Garden Theatre where she performed for the next two seasons before singing with the Italian Opera Company at the King’s Theatre in 1764 where she met her future husband the violinist and composer François-Hippolyte Barthélemon (1741-1808) whom she married in 1766.
The couple performed in Ireland but also on the continent in 1776-1777 when she sang not only in Florence before Marie-Antoinette and her sister Maria Carolina of Austria but also in Milan before the Marchesa di Priero who gifted her this snuff-box. The couple then returned to London where they continued composing and performing until her death in 1799.