A Swiss gold & enamel Imperial Presentation snuff box for Grand Duke Paul Petrovich & Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna of Russia, circa 1780. The oval body engine-turned, the borders chased with interlaced ribbons & flowers in white & pink enamel on a turquoise ground, the sides with column-form reserves enameled en suite, the hinged cover with an oval reserve with the entwined Cyrillic monogram of the initials P & M on an opaque white enameled ground & flanked by crossed laurel & olive branches in translucent green enamel. Dimensions: 1 1/2″ h x 3 1/4″ w x 2 1/2″ d (3.8 x 8.2 x 6.3 cm).

Provenance: Sotheby’s New York, June 23, 1983, Lot 107.

The future Emperor Paul I (1754-1801), toured Europe with his second wife, Maria Feodorovna in 1780 & 1781. The heir & his consort’s tour was technically “incognito,” the Imperial couple used the romantic alias of the “Comte et Comtesse du Nord,” but still highly public & the couple acquired or were gifted with many fine objects, possibly including the offered lot. See Alexei Guzanov, “The Grand Tour of the Comte & the Comtesse du Nord,” Pavlovsk: The Palace & the Park, Paris, 1993.