Gold Boxes: Masterpieces From The Rosalinde And Arthur Gilbert Collection (V&A)

Gold Boxes features fifty lavish miniature masterpieces, each one a unique treasure in its own right, yet also serving a practical function as a snuffbox for stylish individuals of the eighteenth century. Gold is the defining material of the boxes presented here, but it is the intricate, richly worked decoration, set with portraits of enamel, precious stones, procelain and mother-of-pearl, that is the most surprising aspect. 

Echoing the exquisite qualities of the gold boxes themselves, this volume features some of the highlights of the famous collection of Sir Arthur Gilbert and his first wife Rosalinde, whose passion for elegance, beauty and the finest craftsmanship is evident in every petite box. Gold Boxes offers a fascinating insight into both the culture of the snuffbox, and the art, fashion and rich symbolism of eighteenth-century Europe. 

Heike Zech is Senior Curator of the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

 

• Hardback edition printed in 2015.
• Includes coloured images.
• Dimensions: 17.5cm x 17.5cm.