Post by M. Ford Creech Antiques & Fine Arts

GEORGE I SILVER-MOUNTED OVAL TORTOISESHELL SNUFF BOX, Unmarked, c1720 / "Arlecchino", M. Ford Creech Antiques The oval box featuring "Arlecchino", the Harlequin character from "Commedia dell' Arte", within a silver oval, wearing a plumed hat and engraved copper vest, and standing on a mound with flowers playing a lute. The face, sleeves, club and one hat feather are made of silver. The hat, trousers and flowers are made of mother of pearl, the lute a yellow mother of pearl. The vest, shoes and rocky base are of copper. All reflect different colors under various lights. The usual role of #Arlecchino is that of a faithful valet or servant, in addition to providing comic relief as a clown and acrobat. Here he plays the lute, and is likely in pursuit of a pretty lady. The use of this character in the "Commedia dell' Arte" has been traced back to as early as 1593. Provenance / Literature : British Silver Boxes 1640-1840, The Lion Collection, John Culme. The harlequin being featured first on p. 22 as the illustration for "The Collection"; and again as Coll. no. 107. p. 113 https://lnkd.in/dD5DAnG