Cleveland Museum of Art acquires rare Meissonnier gold snuffbox
The Cleveland Museum of Art has recently acquired a rare gold snuffbox made by Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier in Paris between 1728 and 1729, which is a significant example of early Rococo art. This snuffbox is one of only five known precious metal pieces that can be definitively attributed to Meissonnier, as many similar items were often melted down. For a long time, it was the only piece with his maker's mark until a discovery in 2019 revealed his mark on a gold mount from a rock crystal ewer that belonged to Marie Antoinette, now in the Louvre. This addition enriches the museum's collection of Meissonnier's creations.
Key facts
- The Cleveland Museum of Art acquired a gold snuffbox by Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier.
- The snuffbox was made in Paris in 1728–29.
- Meissonnier was a revolutionary forerunner of the Rococo style in decorative arts.
- Only five known precious metal objects are firmly associated with Meissonnier.
- The box was the only known work bearing Meissonnier's maker's mark until 2019.
- In 2019, his mark was discovered on a gold mount for a rock crystal ewer belonging to Marie Antoinette.
- The ewer with the mount is now in the Louvre.
- The snuffbox was executed by Meissonnier himself, without other master goldsmiths.
Entities
Artists
- Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier
- Marie Antoinette
Institutions
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Louvre
Locations
- Paris
- France