FRENCH GOLD, ENAMEL, AND ROMAN MICROMOSAIC SNUFF BOX, BY PIERRE ANDRE MONTAUBAN, PARIS
1809-1819
rectangular with rounded corners, the lid inset with a micromosaic of a doe and faun in a mountainous landscape, in the manner of Nicola Albaccini, within a foliate scrolling garland border outlined with blue enamel fillets, the sides  and base with engine turned panels of concentric circles and foliate scroll bands, the corners in the form of doric columns, the interior and lid stamped with title and maker's hallmarks, a guarantee mark to the side rim edge
8.5cm long, 6cm wide, 2cm high 
Note: Born in Paris in 1763, Pierre-André Montauban is only recorded in Paris from 1800, when he entered a post-revolutionary mark as bijoutier; garnisseur from 30 quai des Orfèvres. As garnisseur, he specialised in mounting miniatures or other types of panels, such as micromosaics, in gold boxes. Because no boxes with Montauban's maker's mark are to be found with a post-1819 Paris mark, it is generally assumed that he either died or retired before then.  For comparable snuff boxes with micromosaic panels see an example with a Roman micromosaic by Antonio Aguatti, representing Cupid driving a shell-chariot, in the Gilbert Collection, London, acc no. 474-2008; and another with a micromosaic of an Italianate landscape, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, acc no. 42.53.14.