1835 Paris Snuff Box

[meyrink]

Hello.

I have researched this snuff box to be Paris 1819-1838 (Raphael), reimported, but have no clue for the makers mark - looks like EH and star bellow. I can not decifer the last mark too. Can anybody help me, please?

Thank you, meyrink

[JayT]

Hello
Your snuff box was made in Paris of 800 standard silver between 1819 and 1838 as shown by the head of Raphaël facing left in an oval reserve (third photo). You also have a guarantee mark for medium objects of a Gorgon head (called a masque facial) in a circular reserve (first photo). I’m not sure why you think your object was made in 1835 - perhaps there is an engraved inscription with that date?
The maker is François-Étienne Hyvelin, mark EH with a bee above and a star below in a lozenge shaped reserve. Hyvelin specialized in snuff boxes, boxes, teething rings, spurs and gold scissors.
He first registered a mark on 26 February 1809. Initially he worked at 211 rue St-Martin, then in 1814 he moved to 52 quai de la Mégisserie. No end date is given, but he was mentioned in the Almanach Azur until 1822. Thus your box was made toward the end of his career.
Hope this helps a bit.
Unfortunately the other marks are too small and out of focus for me to see clearly.
Regards.

See Arminjon, v. I, no. 00965, p. 126.

[meyrink]

Hello JayT,

thank you very much for the information. Yes, there is inscription for Fr. Schmid 1835 on the lid inside and outside there is a golden rectagular with Fr. Schmid.



The snuff box is pretty heavy - 165 g and large (app. 13 x 7 cm). Were these dimensions common for French snuff box of that time?

Best wishes, meyrink

[JayT]

You’re welcome!
The engraved personalization post-dates manufacture of the box, as Hyvelin was no longer working after 1822.
The box is large at 13 cm. in length. That said, I’ve no particular expertise in silver boxes, so can’t answer if yours falls within the norm for snuff boxes in terms of size.
Good luck in your continuing research on this object.

[juantotree]

Hi

Snuff boxes were made for the pocket or the table, I should imagine yours is of the latter.

Martin

[blakstone]

François Etienne Hyvelin LePrince

Born: ca 1786, Paris, son of François Elisabeth Hyvelin LePrince, master silversmith & Marie Eulalie Riché
Married 1st: 28 Dec 1809, Marie Marguerite Sophie Carrie (d. 1815)
Married 2nd: 12 Jan 1817, Caroline Fany de la Marre
Died: 19 Apr 1827, Paris

The family name was Hyvelin LePrince, often shortened to Hyvelin or Yvelin. His younger brother, Nicolas François Hyvelin LePrince (27 Aug 1792-22 May 1832), known as Hyvelin le jeune, was a jeweler, succeeded by his son Jean Amable Hyvelin LePrince. Jean Amable joined Louis-Henry Mouillette in 1851 to form Mouillette, Hyvelin & Co., which continued in various successions until the end of the 19th century.

These, however, were continuations of Hyvelin le jeune; Etienne Hyvelin died in 1827 and his business ended with him.

[meyrink]

Thank you so much, guys. You are fantastic!

[JayT]

To add to blakstone’s excellent information, Nocq lists the father as François-Elisabeth Yvelin, dit Leprince. Yvelin senior registered his mark on 6 May 1786, initials FEY, symbol a triangle with the 2 grains under a crowned fleur-de lys. Alphabetically, he is the next-to-last entry in Nocq.
See Nocq, v. 4, p. 126.