German/Italian gold and micro mosaic snuff box – £3800 at Matthew Barton.
Part of the universal attraction of the 3in (8cm) wide box was the (possibly later) Italian micro-mosaic oval of a spaniel inset to the lid, but the box had inherent quality with its sides engraved with stiff leaf borders and patera to the corners and the underside to the lid engraved with a rose gold oval engraved with a basket of flowers.
Featuring a double-skinned lid and struck twice with a maker’s mark, it was estimated at £1000-1500 but sold to an American buyer at £3800.
